Thank you to the students who created this petition. It is clearly worded, detailed, and grounded in specific, verifiable, cogent facts. The impact is substantial, as the petition helped inform and engage a diverse group of passionate stakeholders. You deserve a special commendation for your initiative, maturity, and contribution to the Montgomery community.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Our freshman been extremely pleased with her experience to date; her WH Honors class is her most challenging and most engaging class.
V
Vincent Magliochetti
9 years ago
History department at MHS > every other department
A
Ariel Epstein
9 years ago
The MHS Social Studies department has always been my favorite of all the departments. It is filled with kind, caring, engaging teachers who truly love their jobs and go out of their way to show how much they value students' learning. Even though Social Studies was not my best subject, I genuinely enjoyed coming to class because the teaching style was creative and open-ended, allowing me to learn in a more engaging, personalized way. Standardizing the curriculum and teaching to the test would ruin this enjoyable and valuable learning experience.
J
Jennifer Lorenzi
9 years ago
The Social Studies dept. at MHS is incredible. I feel so privileged to have been taught by Mr. Flug and Mr. Lugo, both of whom went above and beyond for all of their students. I have two younger sisters in the school system and feel that the proposed reforms would shortchange them of the education they deserve. Please reconsider this.
J
Jessie Feng
9 years ago
Montgomery's social studies department is one of the best departments I've ever had classes with. Starting my freshman year with Mr. Flug in World Studies Honors and ending my senior year with AP Art History with Mr. Oosting, I have witnessed and experienced the passion and enthusiasm these teachers have for their subjects and their students. This is truly one department that does not need to be reformed- they are doing a fantastic job as they are, and I'm sure anyone who has taken a class with them will agree.
G
G Ammerman
9 years ago
Montgomery should be taking pointers from Princeton School District and how they run their curriculum bc they now rank number 1.
L
Laura Couch
9 years ago
The MHS history department shaped some of my best academic experiences at MHS. I took freshman year World Studies with Mr. Flug and I was enthralled by learning. I ended my experience with the MHS History Department with Mr. Oosting in AP Art History. This class changed my life. It opened the world of visual arts to me. Now, I absolutely love art museums and galleries. I am an art history fanatic and try my best to share my knowledge with my friends and the world. The MHS History Department sparked my love of history and has affected me throughout college and will affect me for the rest of my life. They are one of the best aspects of my experience at MHS and I do not want to see the school board value standardization over differentiation, therefore hurting this great department.
I
Isaac Brukhman
9 years ago
I support the social studies department.
V
Venkat Cherukupalli
9 years ago
The history department has proved to be one of the most stable and well rounded departments in terms of balancing academics and fun. I feel that no change is required nor is there any way to improve the teacher, curriculum, or teaching style.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Parent of current MHS students
I
Isa
9 years ago
As a student, this is one of the departments that doesn't need a lot of reform. This is a waste of time and resources that could be used to change other departments that actually need it.
B
Brandon Perera
9 years ago
Class of 2013
M
Maureen Rocks
9 years ago
My child is a junior at MHS. She is an AP US history student with an interest in government and politics. We have been consistently impressed with the quality of instruction in the social studies department. I am dumbfounded by efforts to 'fix' something that is not only not broken, but that seems to be one of the strongest departments at MHS. I wish I could say the same about the science department.
J
Jimena Hajek
9 years ago
Please help this people who are so important in the life of all the students.
C
Craig Halder
9 years ago
As the parent of a sophomore who is extremely interested in pursing history in further studies mainly driven by her first 2 years at MHS, I am concerned that the proposed changes to staff (head of Social Studies) and curriculum are not in the best interests of the students in MTSD. The current program is performing extremely well (the data supports) – furthermore, the staff has proven inspirational, innovative, resourceful and very effective. Staff in this department (esp. Mr. Flug and Mr. Porcelli), provide excellent instruction and instill a sense passion and purpose beyond the strict content. It feels like proposed changes we are hearing about are addressing a non-existent problem, are not in alignment with the Vision, Mission, and many Objectives of the MTSD Strategic Plan, and are a move in the wrong direction.
E
Elyse Mertz
9 years ago
Class of 2013
J
John DeCicco
9 years ago
Don't mess up the school system any more than it already is. Please. The Social Studies department is not without flaws, but it is by far one of the most effective in the high school.
Well said, and presented. I concur.
Why is this still up after the meeting
Thank you to the students who created this petition. It is clearly worded, detailed, and grounded in specific, verifiable, cogent facts. The impact is substantial, as the petition helped inform and engage a diverse group of passionate stakeholders. You deserve a special commendation for your initiative, maturity, and contribution to the Montgomery community.
Our freshman been extremely pleased with her experience to date; her WH Honors class is her most challenging and most engaging class.
History department at MHS > every other department
The MHS Social Studies department has always been my favorite of all the departments. It is filled with kind, caring, engaging teachers who truly love their jobs and go out of their way to show how much they value students' learning. Even though Social Studies was not my best subject, I genuinely enjoyed coming to class because the teaching style was creative and open-ended, allowing me to learn in a more engaging, personalized way. Standardizing the curriculum and teaching to the test would ruin this enjoyable and valuable learning experience.
The Social Studies dept. at MHS is incredible. I feel so privileged to have been taught by Mr. Flug and Mr. Lugo, both of whom went above and beyond for all of their students. I have two younger sisters in the school system and feel that the proposed reforms would shortchange them of the education they deserve. Please reconsider this.
Montgomery's social studies department is one of the best departments I've ever had classes with. Starting my freshman year with Mr. Flug in World Studies Honors and ending my senior year with AP Art History with Mr. Oosting, I have witnessed and experienced the passion and enthusiasm these teachers have for their subjects and their students. This is truly one department that does not need to be reformed- they are doing a fantastic job as they are, and I'm sure anyone who has taken a class with them will agree.
Montgomery should be taking pointers from Princeton School District and how they run their curriculum bc they now rank number 1.
The MHS history department shaped some of my best academic experiences at MHS. I took freshman year World Studies with Mr. Flug and I was enthralled by learning. I ended my experience with the MHS History Department with Mr. Oosting in AP Art History. This class changed my life. It opened the world of visual arts to me. Now, I absolutely love art museums and galleries. I am an art history fanatic and try my best to share my knowledge with my friends and the world. The MHS History Department sparked my love of history and has affected me throughout college and will affect me for the rest of my life. They are one of the best aspects of my experience at MHS and I do not want to see the school board value standardization over differentiation, therefore hurting this great department.
I support the social studies department.
The history department has proved to be one of the most stable and well rounded departments in terms of balancing academics and fun. I feel that no change is required nor is there any way to improve the teacher, curriculum, or teaching style.
Parent of current MHS students
As a student, this is one of the departments that doesn't need a lot of reform. This is a waste of time and resources that could be used to change other departments that actually need it.
Class of 2013
My child is a junior at MHS. She is an AP US history student with an interest in government and politics. We have been consistently impressed with the quality of instruction in the social studies department. I am dumbfounded by efforts to 'fix' something that is not only not broken, but that seems to be one of the strongest departments at MHS. I wish I could say the same about the science department.
Please help this people who are so important in the life of all the students.
As the parent of a sophomore who is extremely interested in pursing history in further studies mainly driven by her first 2 years at MHS, I am concerned that the proposed changes to staff (head of Social Studies) and curriculum are not in the best interests of the students in MTSD. The current program is performing extremely well (the data supports) – furthermore, the staff has proven inspirational, innovative, resourceful and very effective. Staff in this department (esp. Mr. Flug and Mr. Porcelli), provide excellent instruction and instill a sense passion and purpose beyond the strict content. It feels like proposed changes we are hearing about are addressing a non-existent problem, are not in alignment with the Vision, Mission, and many Objectives of the MTSD Strategic Plan, and are a move in the wrong direction.
Class of 2013
Don't mess up the school system any more than it already is. Please. The Social Studies department is not without flaws, but it is by far one of the most effective in the high school.