Union Denounces Hinsdale D86 For Rejecting Social Studies Plan

DARIEN, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board last week rejected changes to course offerings in social studies.

Board members responded to residents' opposition, particularly from those who feared the de-emphasis of European history.

After the vote, the district's teachers union president condemned the move.

The board gave no direction to the social studies teachers on the path forward. The curriculum proposals followed years of development.

The social studies departments from Hinsdale Central and South proposed to:

• Add Advanced Placement Modern World History in addition to AP European History for sophomores.
• Eliminate Western Civilization.
• Add Human Geography to replace World Cultures for freshmen.
• Approve Human Geography Honors to replace World Studies Honors for freshmen.

The focus of many comments was on AP European History. In March, social studies teachers proposed moving that class to junior year, but many feared that would mean its downfall because students take U.S. History as juniors.

After board members expressed opposition to such an idea in June, the teachers went back to the drawing board.

With the new proposal, administrators said sophomores would have a choice of AP Modern World History or AP European History.

But that did not satisfy many residents who spoke out at last Thursday's meeting.

One woman described AP European History as "mortally wounded" if the board approves AP Modern World History. A man said the "broken process" that created the curriculum proposals was "unconscionable." Yet another man said he worried that Western civilization was being shafted, calling it a "force for good."

Social studies department heads said they hoped they could encourage more sophomores to take social studies with the additional class.

"We know there are students who are capable of challenging themselves with an AP course and are choosing not to," said Mark Meyer, chairman of Central's social studies department.

Interim Superintendent Linda Yonke said that people on both sides of the debate appear to have the misperception that AP European History was going away.

"It's not," she said. "AP Euro will still be offered to sophomores. We hope not one less student is taking AP Euro than is taking it right now. It will be the same course."

The board was not having it. It voted 4-2 against adding Human Geography to replace World Cultures for freshmen. Voting for it were Asma Akhras and Terri Walker. The majority was made up of Catherine Greenspon, Jeff Waters, Kay Gallo and Peggy James.

For the other three proposals, the board could not even muster both a motion and a second to make a vote possible.

During public comments later in the meeting, Rick Cazzato, president of the teachers union, denounced the board's decision, calling it an "extreme disappointment."

Cazzato, a South math teacher, said social studies teachers and the administration responded to the board's demands and made changes.

"Your decision tonight tells us that you do not value us, you do not value our expertise and you do not value our experience," he said.