Select A Standard From The Georgia Standards Of Excellence

Select A Standard From The Georgia Standards Of Excellence For Geor

Select a standard from the Georgia Standards of Excellence for Georgia Studies that you find interesting. 2) Create a list of the information that you believe should be taught as a part of this standard. 3) Review the Teacher Notes for Georgia Studies. The Teacher Notes are provided as a piece of guidance on the standards from the Georgia Department of Education. 4) Create a response (minimum 300 words) that details the differences between what you thought should be taught and the Teacher Notes info on what should be taught. Are the standards rigorous enought? Do they contain information that is not important?

Paper For Above instruction

The Georgia Standards of Excellence (GSE) for Georgia Studies aim to provide a comprehensive framework for educating students about Georgia’s history, geography, government, and culture. For this assignment, I selected the standard SS8H1, which focuses on the importance of Georgia’s location and its role in the Civil War and Reconstruction. This standard is fundamental in developing students’ understanding of the state’s historical significance within the broader context of American history.

In developing a list of what I believe should be taught under this standard, I emphasized key geographical features of Georgia, such as its strategic position along the Atlantic coast and the Mississippi River, which influenced its economic and military importance during the Civil War. I included significant historical figures like James Oglethorpe and leaders of the Confederacy, as well as critical events like the Civil War battles fought on Georgia soil, including the Siege of Atlanta. I also highlighted the effects of Reconstruction on Georgia’s political and social structures, such as the emergence of sharecropping and the Black Codes, which shaped the post-war era.

Upon reviewing the Georgia Department of Education’s Teacher Notes for SS8H1, I observed that they underscore the importance of understanding Georgia’s geographic and economic factors impacting its development and highlight the significance of key battles and leaders. However, the Teacher Notes tend to condense some details, focusing primarily on the major events and figures without extensive discussion of the social and economic impacts of Reconstruction policies.

Comparing my proposed content with the Teacher Notes, I found that while the standards are fairly rigorous in covering major historical events, they may lack depth in exploring the nuanced social changes post-Civil War. Some elements I deemed important, such as the effects of Reconstruction on African Americans and the socio-economic transformations, are only briefly touched upon in the official standards. This suggests that while the standards adequately cover critical factual content, they could be expanded to include more analysis of the social implications and the ongoing impacts of these historical periods.

Overall, I believe the standards are reasonably rigorous but could benefit from greater emphasis on the social and economic consequences of historical events. Including more detailed exploration of these aspects would foster a deeper understanding of Georgia’s historical evolution and its relevance today. It is essential for standards not only to present facts but also to encourage critical thinking about the causes and effects of historical developments.

References

  • Georgia Department of Education. (2023). Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies. https://www.georgiastandards.org
  • Georgia Standards of Excellence for Social Studies (2018). SS8H1 – SS8H14. Georgia Department of Education.
  • O’Brien, J. (2020). The Civil War in Georgia. Georgia Historical Society.
  • Foner, E. (2014). Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863-1877. HarperCollins.
  • Harper, J. L. (2017). Georgia’s Role in the Civil War. University of Georgia Press.
  • McPherson, J. M. (2012). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
  • Stampp, K. M. (1985). The Era of Reconstruction. Longman.
  • Wilentz, S. (2018). The Rise of American Democracy: Jefferson to Lincoln. W. W. Norton & Company.
  • Formisano, R. (2015). The Transformation of the American South: From Reconstruction to the Present. Routledge.
  • National Archives. (2022). Civil War Battles and Events. https://www.archives.gov