Marblehead High nixes civics requirement

MARBLEHEAD-Marblehead High students won?t be required to take a civics class next year.Instead, they will be taking required classes in U.S. History in their sophomore and junior years, and an elective class in their senior year, Principal John Ziergiebel told the School Committee Thursday.With some reluctance the School Committee unanimously approved that and other course changes proposed by the high school educators.The civics class called Political Process is a half-year course. It will still be available, but as one of the elective classes available to seniors.Ziergiebel said the change will prepare students for the soon-to-be-required MCAS exam in U.S. History, which assumes that students have had two years of classes in that subject.?It?s advantageous to students to have more world exposure in their senior year,” he added.The change also gives students a chance to become grounded in world history and government. The freshman class formerly called Western Traditions will now be The West and the World, there will be an interdisciplinary sophomore elective class in Asian Studies and the Advanced Placement Europe class will become an Advanced Placement World class instead, in keeping with Superintendent of Schools Paul Dulac?s focus on Asia.Michael Hanna, curriculum director of social studies and world languages, said the new U.S. History classes will focus on the Constitution and other civics issues.?We have to pay attention to that,” he said.School Committee member James Dearborn said he was sorry to see the civics class de-emphasized and Hanna admitted that at least three social studies teachers were concerned about the change.Other changes included a new Freshman Seminar, to review note-taking and other study skills that students may forget over the summer; English and math prep classes for the SAT exams and a special prep class for the MCAS exams; Marine Technology, and more.