Social Studies

General Description of Academic Areas
Academic Areas	General Descriptions
Home Page English Electives Fine Arts Math Physical Education Science Social Studies World Languages	Social Studies Eastern Technical High School’s social studies department boasts eleven Maryland certified teachers who have either earned or are earning advanced degrees. The social studies course offerings include three courses required by the Maryland State Department of Education, one course required by the Baltimore County Board of Education, and one elective choice. For each of the required classes, there are honors, as well as gifted and talented and/or advanced placement level sections. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, social studies teachers sponsor clubs, activities, and extra help classes; coach Eastern Tech athletic teams; and serve on committees and boards within the school. Government 9 – The MSDE required Grade 9 social studies course. Government 9 is the required course for all freshmen. Students learn to identify and to evaluate various forms of government. The course concentration, however, is on American federal, state, and local governments. Heavy emphasis is placed on the roles and functions of all branches and levels of American government. Government 9 is the first social studies class to undergo the High School Assessment testing. The test will assess each student’s knowledge of the workings of local, state, and national governments. The assessment will require students to use information they have learned during the school year and to apply that knowledge to practical situations. More information concerning all of the high school assessment tests is available at the MSDE website, www.msde.state.md.us. Eastern Tech’s Government 9 teachers are Mr. Manogue, Mr. Otto, Ms. Smith, Mr. Spivey, and Mr. Winpenny. World History – The MSDE required Grade 10 social studies course. In grade 10 the social studies requirement is World History. A survey of the world’s history gives students an overview of cultures, people, and events from each of the world’s continents. The scope of the curriculum extends from ancient civilizations to the present. This year's world history cirriculum is the brand new to most of the teachers of Eastern Tech. Mrs. Morseberger, Ms. Renzi, Mr. Winpenny and Mr. Thomas as they introduced newly revised curriculum to their classes. Changes to the curriculum include overall approach which is global and thermatic versus chronological, and begins with the early modern world, (around 1000 A.D.) versus the emergence of this course. The revision was made in anticipation of the World History High School Assessment test which will be in place in approximately five years. Ms. Dever will teach the World History course that is being piloted; and Ms. Renzi, Mrs. Morsberger, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Winpenny will teach the existing curriculum. A countywide final is given at the conclusion of this course. The final exam is approximately 15% of the overall grade in this course as in all academic courses at Eastern Tech. United States History – The MSDE required Grade 11 social studies course. The third subject required by the MSDE in the social studies is United States History. The chronological sequence of this course is from 1787 to the present in all classes except Advanced Placement United States History. In the AP class, the course begins with the arrival of European settlers in America. Mr. Manogue, Mr. Smith, Ms. Smith teach U.S. History. Economic and Public Issues – The BCPS required Grade 12 social studies course As seniors, Eastern Tech students must pass a course required by the Baltimore County Public Schools entitled Economic and Public Issues. In this course students discuss various philosophies of government beginning with ancient Athenian democracy and continuing through twentieth century totalitarian governments in Italy, Germany, and the Soviet Union. Students discuss contemporary public issues using the issues analysis model. Therefore the subject matter, much of which is derived from daily newspapers or weekly news magazines, remains flexible while analysis of the issues follows a consistent model. Mrs. Morsberger and Mr. Otto teach EPI. SAT Prep- Ms. Dever teaches the verbal portion of the SAT Prep class. In the verbal portion of SAT Prep, students are drilled in vocabulary and interpretive skills. Due in part to this course, Tech’s SAT scores have increased annually for the past couple of years. All teachers in the social studies department in every course stress vocabulary development and the reading and writing skills needed for success on the SAT test. Eastern Tech’s average combined score of 1064 is above the national average for the first time ever. Psychology- The final elective in the social studies department at Eastern Technical High School is Psychology. This course, which stresses neurobiology, is a natural complement for Tech’s Allied Health students. Mrs. Renzi teaches also teaches a a section of psychology.

General Description of Academic Areas

Academic Areas

General Descriptions

Social Studies

Eastern Technical High School’s social studies department boasts eleven Maryland certified teachers who have either earned or are earning advanced degrees. The social studies course offerings include three courses required by the Maryland State Department of Education, one course required by the Baltimore County Board of Education, and one elective choice. For each of the required classes, there are honors, as well as gifted and talented and/or advanced placement level sections. In addition to their teaching responsibilities, social studies teachers sponsor clubs, activities, and extra help classes; coach Eastern Tech athletic teams; and serve on committees and boards within the school.

Government 9 –
The MSDE required Grade 9 social studies course.
Government 9 is the required course for all freshmen. Students learn to identify and to evaluate various forms of government. The course concentration, however, is on American federal, state, and local governments. Heavy emphasis is placed on the roles and functions of all branches and levels of American government.

Government 9 is the first social studies class to undergo the High School Assessment testing. The test will assess each student’s knowledge of the workings of local, state, and national governments. The assessment will require students to use information they have learned during the school year and to apply that knowledge to practical situations. More information concerning all of the high school assessment tests is available at the MSDE website, www.msde.state.md.us. Eastern Tech’s Government 9 teachers are Mr. Manogue, Mr. Otto, Ms. Smith, Mr. Spivey, and Mr. Winpenny.

World History –
The MSDE required Grade 10 social studies course.
In grade 10 the social studies requirement is World History. A survey of the world’s history gives students an overview of cultures, people, and events from each of the world’s continents. The scope of the curriculum extends from ancient civilizations to the present.

This year's world history cirriculum is the brand new to most of the teachers of Eastern Tech. Mrs. Morseberger, Ms. Renzi, Mr. Winpenny and Mr. Thomas as they introduced newly revised curriculum to their classes. Changes to the curriculum include overall approach which is global and thermatic versus chronological, and begins with the early modern world, (around 1000 A.D.) versus the emergence of this course. The revision was made in anticipation of the World History High School Assessment test which will be in place in approximately five years. Ms. Dever will teach the World History course that is being piloted; and Ms. Renzi, Mrs. Morsberger, Mr. Thomas, and Mr. Winpenny will teach the existing curriculum. A countywide final is given at the conclusion of this course. The final exam is approximately 15% of the overall grade in this course as in all academic courses at Eastern Tech.

United States History –
The MSDE required Grade 11 social studies course. The third subject required by the MSDE in the social studies is United States History. The chronological sequence of this course is from 1787 to the present in all classes except Advanced Placement United States History. In the AP class, the course begins with the arrival of European settlers in America. Mr. Manogue, Mr. Smith, Ms. Smith teach U.S. History.

Economic and Public Issues –
The BCPS required Grade 12 social studies course
As seniors, Eastern Tech students must pass a course required by the Baltimore County Public Schools entitled Economic and Public Issues. In this course students discuss various philosophies of government beginning with ancient Athenian democracy and continuing through twentieth century totalitarian governments in Italy, Germany, and the Soviet Union. Students discuss contemporary public issues using the issues analysis model. Therefore the subject matter, much of which is derived from daily newspapers or weekly news magazines, remains flexible while analysis of the issues follows a consistent model. Mrs. Morsberger and Mr. Otto teach EPI.

SAT Prep-
Ms. Dever teaches the verbal portion of the SAT Prep class. In the verbal portion of SAT Prep, students are drilled in vocabulary and interpretive skills. Due in part to this course, Tech’s SAT scores have increased annually for the past couple of years. All teachers in the social studies department in every course stress vocabulary development and the reading and writing skills needed for success on the SAT test. Eastern Tech’s average combined score of 1064 is above the national average for the first time ever.

Psychology-
The final elective in the social studies department at Eastern Technical High School is Psychology. This course, which stresses neurobiology, is a natural complement for Tech’s Allied Health students. Mrs. Renzi teaches also teaches a a section of psychology.