The Board of Education has officially reversed its decision regarding the contract of our Social Studies supervisor. This outcome reflects the commitment everyone showed in defending the integrity of our curriculum. We should remain attentive as the department moves forward to ensure these educational standards persist.
July 11, 2017
Final supporters
We, students and parents of Montgomery Township, hereby petition the Board of Education to veto the decision to not renew the contract of the current Supervisor of High School Social Studies department, a teacher and supervisor that has proven to be highly effective for the past four years. With this, we urge them to prevent any unfavorable changes to the department’s curriculum that might accompany her replacement. Such changes, we believe, would only serve to detract from the integrity of the school district and that of the curriculum, as well as limit the abilities of the highly qualified and experienced teachers of Montgomery Township School District.
- The proposed changes to the structure of curriculum goes against Strategic Objective 1.1 to “Differentiate instructional strategies to support each student’s unique learning needs, interests, and aptitudes.”
- The proposed non-renewal as well as possible changes to curriculum in the Social Studies Department have caused substantial concern among students, neglecting the Strategic Objective 1.3 to “Ensure students’ social-emotional needs are being addressed.”
- The proposed changes and non-renewal also violate Objective 2.4 to “Recruit and retain high quality educators” as they risk alienating the highest quality teachers at Montgomery High School who often go above and beyond the required state standards.
- Teachers are being, or will be, penalized for slight changes in name for the same assignment they assign. The proposed changes to curriculum also require all tests to have the exact same names, and views assignments with slightly different names as different assignments.
- These names have been suggested to be codes rather than actual assignment names, which would create immense confusion for not just teachers, but more importantly parents and students.
- The current Social Studies Supervisor is keen to student concerns about the functioning of the Social Studies Department, as shown through the fact that she goes above and beyond to meet with students, no matter personal inconvenience.
- The current Social Studies Supervisor supervisor has demonstrated commitment to bettering the education of students in Social Studies classes with attempts to update and modernize curriculum.
- The AP students now have access to online textbooks, something not available before her time as supervisor.
- AP US History students have access to up to date and level specific textbooks, with the newest edition of American History: Connecting With the Past
- AP Government and Politics students have access to a textbook with online resources because of the determination of the current Social Studies Supervisor to work with teachers to find the best options available.
- The World Studies Honors curriculum was updated before the 2016-2017 school year to include more about modern day history.
- Performance by students on AP tests have improved during the current Social Studies Supervisor’s tenure. Below are the changes in student scoring as reported in the MHS School Profiles from 2012-2016, this change occurred during the period in which the supervisor in question was actively employed by the Montgomery Township School District.
- Art History: An increase in 11% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 71% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 33.7%)
- Macroeconomics: An increase in 4% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 83% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 40.8%)
- Microeconomics: An increase in 3% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 83% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 45.3%)
- US Government and Politics: An increase in 33% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 75% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 25.8%)
- US History: An increase in 7% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 100% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 29.8%)
Looking at all of these pieces, it is clear that the current Supervisor of Social Studies at MHS is not only beneficial to the township, but in fact wholly necessary to the growth and continued level of excellence the Montgomery Township School District offers to its students. The refusal to renew her contract is a key example of administration trying to fix something that is not broken, and fit education with all its variances into something cut and dry. This fails to account for the needs of our student body, and one’s personalized learning preferences. The removal of the current supervisor would signal a fundamental shift in the ideologies of Montgomery Township, one that would harm the education of every student in the district, from elementary, to middle, to high schoolers.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
May 23, 2017
May 22, 2017
Reaching one hundred signatures illustrates how deeply our community cares about the stability of the social studies department. Seeing this level of engagement confirms that people value the consistency and quality of the education provided in our classrooms.
May 21, 2017
Seeing this groundswell of community concern confirms that our shared commitment to the stability of our history curriculum runs deep. It is heartening to realize that so many people value the leadership that has guided our students through these past few years. This collective attention suggests that the Board of Education must now seriously consider the impact of their upcoming decisions on our classrooms.
Reached 100 supporters
May 20, 2017
May 17, 2017
Reaching our first hundred signatures represents a significant moment of consensus among those who value the integrity of our Social Studies department. Please consider sending this petition to someone else in the community today so we can demonstrate the true breadth of our concern before the upcoming board review.
112 Comments
I support the fine teachers of Montgomery 100 percent. Shackling them with restrictive rules is stifling and counterproductive. We cannot afford to lose dedicated,caring, excellent teachers to an uncaring, shortsighted bureaucracy.
As an MHS alum ('02), I fully support this petition. The education that I received was better than the $15K/year private school I had attended prior to loving to Montgomery in 1998 and enrolling in the Montgomery Public School system. Today's youth should be afforded the same opportunity!
As a MHS student and a teenager who has anxiety, the implications listed here would cause much confusion, creating more anxiety attacks, while over-all, decreasing the enjoyment and effectiveness of school.
We need the facts for a decision involving letting go of a beloved and effective teacher . We need to focus on the kids and less on politics . If there is a reason we do not know for making such decision then we should uncover it to keep the process transparent.
The mhs social studies department is amazing, and any questioning of their ability is messed up. I plan on majoring in history and part of that decision came from the dedication of this department
Well said, and presented. I concur.
Why is this still up after the meeting
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Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The Board of Education has officially reversed its decision regarding the contract of our Social Studies supervisor. This outcome reflects the commitment everyone showed in defending the integrity of our curriculum. We should remain attentive as the department moves forward to ensure these educational standards persist.
July 11, 2017
Final supporters
We, students and parents of Montgomery Township, hereby petition the Board of Education to veto the decision to not renew the contract of the current Supervisor of High School Social Studies department, a teacher and supervisor that has proven to be highly effective for the past four years. With this, we urge them to prevent any unfavorable changes to the department’s curriculum that might accompany her replacement. Such changes, we believe, would only serve to detract from the integrity of the school district and that of the curriculum, as well as limit the abilities of the highly qualified and experienced teachers of Montgomery Township School District.
- The proposed changes to the structure of curriculum goes against Strategic Objective 1.1 to “Differentiate instructional strategies to support each student’s unique learning needs, interests, and aptitudes.”
- The proposed non-renewal as well as possible changes to curriculum in the Social Studies Department have caused substantial concern among students, neglecting the Strategic Objective 1.3 to “Ensure students’ social-emotional needs are being addressed.”
- The proposed changes and non-renewal also violate Objective 2.4 to “Recruit and retain high quality educators” as they risk alienating the highest quality teachers at Montgomery High School who often go above and beyond the required state standards.
- Teachers are being, or will be, penalized for slight changes in name for the same assignment they assign. The proposed changes to curriculum also require all tests to have the exact same names, and views assignments with slightly different names as different assignments.
- These names have been suggested to be codes rather than actual assignment names, which would create immense confusion for not just teachers, but more importantly parents and students.
- The current Social Studies Supervisor is keen to student concerns about the functioning of the Social Studies Department, as shown through the fact that she goes above and beyond to meet with students, no matter personal inconvenience.
- The current Social Studies Supervisor supervisor has demonstrated commitment to bettering the education of students in Social Studies classes with attempts to update and modernize curriculum.
- The AP students now have access to online textbooks, something not available before her time as supervisor.
- AP US History students have access to up to date and level specific textbooks, with the newest edition of American History: Connecting With the Past
- AP Government and Politics students have access to a textbook with online resources because of the determination of the current Social Studies Supervisor to work with teachers to find the best options available.
- The World Studies Honors curriculum was updated before the 2016-2017 school year to include more about modern day history.
- Performance by students on AP tests have improved during the current Social Studies Supervisor’s tenure. Below are the changes in student scoring as reported in the MHS School Profiles from 2012-2016, this change occurred during the period in which the supervisor in question was actively employed by the Montgomery Township School District.
- Art History: An increase in 11% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 71% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 33.7%)
- Macroeconomics: An increase in 4% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 83% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 40.8%)
- Microeconomics: An increase in 3% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 83% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 45.3%)
- US Government and Politics: An increase in 33% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 75% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 25.8%)
- US History: An increase in 7% of students scored a 4 or 5, with 100% receiving such scores (National level of 4’s or 5’s: 29.8%)
Looking at all of these pieces, it is clear that the current Supervisor of Social Studies at MHS is not only beneficial to the township, but in fact wholly necessary to the growth and continued level of excellence the Montgomery Township School District offers to its students. The refusal to renew her contract is a key example of administration trying to fix something that is not broken, and fit education with all its variances into something cut and dry. This fails to account for the needs of our student body, and one’s personalized learning preferences. The removal of the current supervisor would signal a fundamental shift in the ideologies of Montgomery Township, one that would harm the education of every student in the district, from elementary, to middle, to high schoolers.
Updates
Reached 1,000 supporters
May 23, 2017
May 22, 2017
Reaching one hundred signatures illustrates how deeply our community cares about the stability of the social studies department. Seeing this level of engagement confirms that people value the consistency and quality of the education provided in our classrooms.
May 21, 2017
Seeing this groundswell of community concern confirms that our shared commitment to the stability of our history curriculum runs deep. It is heartening to realize that so many people value the leadership that has guided our students through these past few years. This collective attention suggests that the Board of Education must now seriously consider the impact of their upcoming decisions on our classrooms.
Reached 100 supporters
May 20, 2017
May 17, 2017
Reaching our first hundred signatures represents a significant moment of consensus among those who value the integrity of our Social Studies department. Please consider sending this petition to someone else in the community today so we can demonstrate the true breadth of our concern before the upcoming board review.
112 Comments
The MHS Social Studies Department has always performed well, and has done even better under the guidance of Mrs. Hodgson. Evidently, both Mrs. Hodgson and the teachers are doing something right under the current system. Don't fix what isn't broken.
I support the fine teachers of Montgomery 100 percent. Shackling them with restrictive rules is stifling and counterproductive. We cannot afford to lose dedicated,caring, excellent teachers to an uncaring, shortsighted bureaucracy.
As an MHS alum ('02), I fully support this petition. The education that I received was better than the $15K/year private school I had attended prior to loving to Montgomery in 1998 and enrolling in the Montgomery Public School system. Today's youth should be afforded the same opportunity!
As a MHS student and a teenager who has anxiety, the implications listed here would cause much confusion, creating more anxiety attacks, while over-all, decreasing the enjoyment and effectiveness of school.
We need the facts for a decision involving letting go of a beloved and effective teacher . We need to focus on the kids and less on politics . If there is a reason we do not know for making such decision then we should uncover it to keep the process transparent.
The mhs social studies department is amazing, and any questioning of their ability is messed up. I plan on majoring in history and part of that decision came from the dedication of this department
Well said, and presented. I concur.
Why is this still up after the meeting
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The MHS Social Studies Department has always performed well, and has done even better under the guidance of Mrs. Hodgson. Evidently, both Mrs. Hodgson and the teachers are doing something right under the current system. Don't fix what isn't broken.