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American Citizenship, Education
September 11, 2018

Video Highlights Long-Running Journal that Publishes History Essays by High School Students

BOSTON – A new video highlights the work of Will Fitzhugh, who for years has operated The Concord Review, a journal that publishes history essays by secondary students from across the country and around the globe. “Will Fitzhugh has dedicated his career...
American Citizenship
April 13, 2018

Op-ed: Time is right to study Jefferson in our schools

By Jamie Gass and Will Fitzhugh “Students of reading, writing, and common arithmetick . . . Graecian, Roman, English, and American history . . .,” Thomas Jefferson advised about democratic education, “should be able to guard the sacred deposit of the rights...
American Citizenship, Education
September 18, 2017

Op-ed: Education focus, testing on history, civics critical to well-informed citizenry

By Tom Birmingham Read this op-ed as published in WGBH News, The Springfield Republican, The Berkshire Eagle, The Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, The Lowell Sun, and The New Bedford Standard Times. BOSTON — Sunday marked the 230th anniversary of the signing of the...
American Citizenship, Education
June 2, 2017

Op-ed: Marshall Plan brought U.S. to apex of power

By Jamie Gass June 5, 2017 “The cost of war in human lives is constantly spread before me, written neatly in many ledgers whose columns are gravestones,” said American five-star General George C. Marshall. “I am deeply moved to find some means...
American Citizenship, Education
March 17, 2017

Cursive and Historical Literacy: A Real World Example

In the age of computers and modern convenience, the relevancy of cursive is continually called into question. Compared to the countless fonts designed with modern aesthetics, cursive seems unwieldy – and when placed side-by-side with written print, less readable. Yet across the...
American Citizenship, Education
August 25, 2016

Op-ed: Teaching American History: A Straightforward Fix For The Bay State

Read this full article on WGBH News.  THOMAS BIRMINGHAM It’s often said that what isn’t tested isn’t taught.  At the same time, recent federal laws compel far too much standardized testing.  State education leaders should reinstate passage of a U.S. history MCAS...
American Citizenship, Education
May 27, 2016

Honoring the Service and Sacrifice of Our Veterans

Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the men and women who have courageously defended the ideals and freedoms that Americans hold so dear. We also view it as a poignant reminder that we must ensure our children are learning about the important events...
American Citizenship, Education
March 25, 2016

Op-ed: State should revive US history requirement

To teach students how to exercise the rights and responsibilities associated with active citizenship in a democracy, Massachusetts should revive the requirement that public school students pass a US history MCAS test to graduate from high school.
American Citizenship, Education
January 28, 2016

Guest Opinion: Don't let Challenger disaster, space race become lost

(Note: This op-ed originally appeared on the anniversary of the Challenger disaster, in the news outlets linked at the bottom of this post. Post originally posted on Jan. 28, 2015.) BOSTON — Today marks the anniversary of the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger...
American Citizenship, Education
March 25, 2015

Forum on Teaching Cold War in Schools to Feature Three Pulitzer Prize Winners

BOSTON – Three Pulitzer Prize winners, two retired teachers, and the director of the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum will be among the speakers at “Tear Down This Wall!,” a Pioneer Institute forum on teaching the Cold War in schools...