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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, November 4, 2004

What high school students should know in social studies

Advertiser Staff

Here's a brief description of what your high schooler is being taught in social studies classes and is expected to know by graduation. The goals are intended to help ensure that your child is at the appropriate development level and that Hawai'i's public schools are working toward meeting Hawai'i Content and Performance Standards.

GRADES 9-12

Four credits of social studies are required in high school. The following descriptions are provided to make sure your child is meeting the requirements and earning the credits required for high school graduation.

Starting in 2006, all students entering high school will be required to take:

• The semester course "Participation in Democracy," in which students analyze the foundations of our democracy, examine the myriad issues facing our nation today, and plan and execute a plan for civic action. The course is usually taken during freshman year.

• The semester course "Modern Hawaiian History," an analysis of the social, political, economic and environmental events, issues and ideas that have helped shape the history of Hawai'i since the overthrow of Queen Lili'uokalani. This course is also generally required during the ninth grade.

• A yearlong American history course that focuses on the issues, ideas and people that have defined the 20th and 21st centuries

• A yearlong world history course that asks the students to examine both ancient and modern times to foster a global perspective of the past and to make critical connections to the contemporary world.

• An elective credit, generally taken during senior year, which allows students to pursue their particular interest and may lead to further regional studies, historical analysis or, from the many advanced placement courses that are offered, to college credit.

Upon completing an elective, the student should:

• Demonstrate attainment of major content and concepts in analytical courses such as economics, political science, "Political Processes," "American Problems" and environmental studies.

• Demonstrate attainment of major content and concepts in behavioral courses such as anthropology, psychology, philosophy, humanities, ethnic studies, and sociology.

• Demonstrate attainment of major content and processes in synoptic courses such as European studies, Pacific island cultures, Hawaiian studies, Asian studies, geography and global studies.

• Demonstrate attainment of major content and processes in Advanced Placement courses leading to college credit in AP European history, AP world history, AP U.S. history, AP economics, AP government and politics, AP psychology and AP human geography.

Successful study at the secondary level requires much more than a recitation of names and dates; it requires an analysis of the hard questions that have been asked for decades, even centuries.

It mandates that the student become the historian, the political scientist, the geographer, the cultural anthropologist or the economist, using the tools and methods of the discipline to add to the body of existing knowledge and to develop personal points of view.

It is this synthesis of knowledge and critical thinking that will enable our children to have the skills and attitudes necessary for the challenges that face us in the 21st century.

Source: state Department of Education

Next week: A look at high school science standards

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Parents can help

High school social studies courses require a lot of reading and memorizing, as well as long-term planning. To help your child develop good study habits, experts recommend these tips:

• Make sure your child has strong reading skills. If your teen hasn't learned to read, he or she can't read to learn.

• Help your teen organize the three S's: stuff, space and schedule. High school assignments often need to be managed over weeks or months, so it's crucial to get organized.

• Review your child's assignments periodically. Ask your child to describe what each requires, where the project stands and what's needed for completion, as well as the plans for wrapping it up.

• Be sure your teen builds regular study time into his or her schedule. Most tests are scheduled well in advance, and 20 minutes of review each night will produce much better results on Thursday's exam than pulling an all-nighter on Wednesday.

• Take a hard look at your teen's overall time commitments. Does time devoted to a part-time job, extracurricular activities, socializing or chores crowd out prime study time? You may need to help your teen refocus on priorities.

• Be supportive. Even if you can't provide practical help, you can provide encouragement, empathy and maybe a mug of hot cocoa to break up a long study session.

• If you think your teen is overdoing it, step in. School success is important, but not more so than your teen's health and well-being. Too many nights of studying into the wee hours may signal an overly ambitious academic schedule, a perfectionist attitude or both.

Resources online: www.ehow.com/how_4322_encourage-study-habits.html