Social Studies Department Attends National Conference

The Social Studies Department attended the National Council for the Social Studies National Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, from November 21 to November 24. The conference was attended by seven members of ND’s Social Studies Department: Michael Cortese, Mary Ellsworth ‘02, Jaime Gibilisco ‘10, Dean Hentz, Tim Jones ‘20, Jason Patton ‘01, and Peggy Wroblewski ‘75. Thousands of social studies educators, administrators, and professionals from across the country gathered to collaborate and gain insights into the extraordinary works of their peers to inspire their usage of best practices and diverse perspectives with others in the social studies profession.

Sessions were led by prestigious faculty from Harvard University, Boston University, Howard University, and The University of Michigan, among other higher institutions, and major research and preservation societies such as the Bill of Rights Institute, Monticello Society, Street Law, and the National Constitution Center. The Notre Dame Social Studies Department left the conference with strong strategies for delivering instruction that engages students, the best ways to advocate for the most pressing issues of social studies education, and a network of resources to further support teaching strategies and content. Keynote speakers of the conference included: Dr. Heather Cox Richardson of Boston College, Dr. Jill Lepore of Harvard Law School, and Documentarian, Producer, and Director Ken Burns.

Professor Richardson teaches nineteenth-century American history at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. Her early work focused on the transformation of political ideology from the Civil War to the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt. It examined issues of race, economics, westward expansion, and the construction of the concept of an American middle class. Her history of the Republican Party, To Make Men Free (2014), examines the fundamental tensions in American politics from the time of the Northwest Ordinance to the present. She is working on an intellectual history of American politics and a graphic treatment of the Reconstruction Era.

Jill Lepore is the David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History at Harvard University and Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. She is also a staff writer at The New Yorker. A prize-winning professor, she teaches classes in evidence, historical methods, humanistic inquiry, and American history. Much of her scholarship explores absences and asymmetries in the historical record, particularly emphasizing the history and technology of evidence. Lepore writes about American history, law, literature, and politics as a wide-ranging and prolific essayist. She authored many award-winning books, including the international bestseller These Truths: A History of the United States (2018). Her latest book is The Deadline, a collection of essays. Her next book, We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution, will be published in September 2025.

Ken Burns - Celebrated American documentarian who gradually amassed a considerable reputation and a devoted audience with a series of reassuringly traditional meditations on Americana. Burns' works are treasure troves of archival materials; he skillfully utilizes period music and footage, photographs, periodicals, and ordinary people's correspondence, the latter often movingly read by seasoned professional actors in a deliberate attempt to get away from a "Great Man" approach to history. Like most non-fiction filmmakers, Burns wears many hats on his projects, often serving as writer, cinematographer, editor, and music director in addition to producing and directing. He achieved his apotheosis with The Civil War (1990), a phenomenally popular 11-hour documentary that won two Emmys and broke all previous ratings records for public TV. The series' companion coffee table book--priced at a hefty $50--sold more than 700,000 copies. The audio version, narrated by Burns, was also a major best-seller. In the final accounting, "The Civil War" became the first documentary to gross over $100 million.

The professional development opportunities provided to Notre Dame teachers are important for ensuring they remain at the forefront of educational trends and methodologies. By attending conferences like the National Council for the Social Studies National Conference, educators gain invaluable insights and strategies that enhance their teaching practices. These experiences equip them with the latest tools to engage students effectively and foster a collaborative spirit among educators, allowing them to share diverse perspectives and best practices.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the generous donors whose contributions at our Spring Fling Annual Auction make these transformative opportunities possible. Their support is instrumental in empowering our teachers to continually refine their skills and adapt to the evolving landscape of education, benefiting our students and enriching their learning experiences.

James Gibilisco, MBA, MSEd
Social Studies Department, Chairperson