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L'Anse Creuse to pilot two new senior electives in social studies
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Summary
District curriculum staff proposed piloting two new high‑school social studies electives — a one‑semester 'History and Media' course and a one‑semester 'World Religions' course — to expand fourth‑year options and tie project‑based assessments to state and national standards, with pilots slated for 2026–27 pending enrollment and DCC approval.
District curriculum leaders presented two proposed senior electives at the Dec. 15 L'Anse Creuse board meeting and asked for feedback ahead of student course selection in February.
Kim Roski and social studies teacher Terry Benavides described a one‑semester History and Media course that uses film, music, photography, propaganda, literature and journalism as primary sources to analyze twentieth‑century conflicts and media’s role in shaping public memory. Benavides said the course emphasizes project‑based learning — podcasts, documentaries and gallery walks — rather than standardized tests.
The second proposed elective, World Religions: History, Culture and Human Experience, would offer academic exploration of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam in a descriptive, not devotional, format. Both electives are designed as one‑semester options that could be paired to give students a fourth year of social studies to qualify for the district’s honor cord.
Administrators said the electives were chosen after reviewing neighboring districts' course catalogs and polling students at both high schools; teacher interest and alignment to multiple standards (state social studies expectations, the C3 framework and ELA literacy standards) guided curriculum development. Benavides said the pilot would run in 2026–27 if enough students enroll and be refined through stakeholder feedback before final DCC approval.
Board members praised the process and student input. Trustee comments highlighted the district’s limited fourth‑year options and noted certification constraints for psychology courses at one high school; members welcomed the proposal as a way to broaden offerings and increase students eligible for an honor cord.
