Williamston teacher proposes World War II elective; board hears details and timeline

Karen, a high school social studies teacher, told the Williamston Community Schools Board of Education that she is proposing a new World War II elective for the high school and that student interest was strong.

The proposal, presented during the board’s meeting, would make the class an elective open to freshmen through seniors (no prerequisite required). Karen said a district survey generated “close to a 100 students” who indicated they would like to take the course.

The course would cover causes of World War II, the interwar period, military campaigns in Europe and the Pacific beginning with Pearl Harbor, the Holocaust and other instances of genocide (the state of Michigan requires six hours of Holocaust/genocide instruction), and postwar legacies. Karen said she would not assign a single textbook; she described using a reference volume provided by the USS Midway education program plus primary-source documents, excerpts from memoirs and selected multimedia material. “It’s not gonna be a textbook for the students, but it’s a reference book for me,” she said.

Karen said the class would follow the C3 framework (inquiry, research, analysis, public discourse and decision making) and incorporate depth-of-knowledge levels and case-study work, including opportunities to investigate missing-in-action cases. She also said she hopes to arrange field trips, naming the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Michigan and the Willow Run bomber-plant/aircraft museum in Ypsilanti as potential sites.

Board members asked clarifying questions. Chris (board member) asked whether any prerequisite would be required; Karen said, “No. There would not be any restrictions on taking the class.” Adam (district staff) confirmed the district’s timeline: the course would be considered for the course catalog this fall and, if approved, would be an option for the 2026–27 school year. Karen reiterated that the class would not impose additional costs on students: “So you won't have any cost added to you on this.”

A board member later commented that the proposal’s emphasis on rigor and depth of knowledge was “very impressive,” and expressed support for moving forward. The board did not vote on the proposal at the meeting; Karen and district staff were directed to continue preparations so the course can be included in the catalog if the board approves the addition.

Next steps: the course will be placed in the upcoming course-catalog review cycle; the board will consider formal approval as part of regular curriculum actions ahead of fall 2026 enrollment if paperwork and staffing are in order.