History

The History Department emphasizes a thematic approach to the study of history. History is viewed not solely as a continuum of time but also as a continuum of competing and complementary narratives. Faculty emphasize the way history inculcates various ideologies and belief systems into the current panoply of the human experience. In many ways, history can be seen as ongoing creation myths, which inform people’s actions and reactions within today’s global dynamic. The study of history teaches vital skills necessary for an enlightened and educated individual, such as precise analytical thinking, an awareness of bias and reductive reasoning, a contemplation of value and morality, and the ability to write specifically and persuasively on such contemplative matters.

The art of discussion among students, as opposed to a question-and-answer format, is the methodological approach of history teachers at CRMS. In addition, emphasis is placed on the following core skills: reading, retention, crafting, and expression. Ultimately, these skills demand an active and dynamic partnership between teacher and student, between thought and delivery, between inquiry and result. For non-native English speakers, please see these additional course offerings.

The required history course for the 9th grade, World Geography, uses a geographic perspective to introduce students to significant global issues. The relationship between humans and their environment is the theme as the class examines human decisions and the consequent “landscapes” they create. The objectives of the course are to foster greater interest in the world as well as to know what pressures are shaping our future. Sample units include; personal identity, perspectives, and ethics, political organization of space, cities and urban land use, Industrialization and economic development, population and migration, and modern geographic mapping.