CURRICULUM IN FOCUS American Studies
American Frontier, the evolution of American business and its impact on the lived experience of citizens, and the constant redefinition of American citizenship and the meaning of the American Revolution.
In addition to more traditional assignments and assessments, students built web pages, wrote research papers on a broad range of topics from Riot grrrls to Sacagawea, and created interactive digital timelines. Te double period and team-taught approach allowed teachers to expand the range of texts and model civil disagreements about the meaning of documents and events. Te ability to reconfigure the dispensation of time during a double class period provided opportunities to create striking juxtapositions of material. During one class, Mr. Taylor might be showing the Ashcan School, Mr. Levin might be talking about the “red in tooth and claw” nature of the Gilded Age, while Mrs. Robertson might be
leading a discussion of late ‘40s naturalism in A Streetcar Named Desire. By focusing on transcendent themes rather than a chronology, students were encouraged to see the enduring connections between the past and the rapidly evolving world they inhabit. Discussions of the early Cold War might dovetail with questions about the contemporary issue of terrorism that shaped much of their childhood. What better way to gauge the impact of history than by seeing how the events of the past are remembered (or forgotten) for the purposes of the present?
Despite the heightened expectations, students have continually risen to the occasion. From diverse backgrounds, this inaugural class was an impressive microcosm of the culture of St. Anne's-Belfield School. Whether they were from Korea, China or Greene County, these students brought their own experience, curiosities, and passions to discussions that
have helped to enrich the experience of all students and teachers involved. Many students took on the additional challenge of preparing for the AP English Literature Exam and the AP US History Exam outside of class, and a few are incorporating their studies and furthering them next year in self-directed capstone theses.
Next year, the program will expand to include many more students and will incorporate an Honors option within the context of the mainstream course. While we will miss the depths of Mr. Levin’s understanding of history, the opportunity to welcome Ms. Plog into the American Studies teaching team offers the best proof of how the material is changed by the participants. We have been blessed with a wonderful group of American Studies citizens this year and look forward to the new vistas seen by those who will take part in the future.
American Studies is more than just harmonizing the curriculum of history and English.
ST. ANNE’S-BELFIELD SCHOOL – 19
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