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2008 Summer Reading & Foreign Language Assignments

Curriculum

History Department

History courses at Blair enable students to develop basic academic skills that lead to success at the college level, most notably: reading comprehension, written expression, oral speaking skills, critical thinking, and research skills using Blair’s Timken Library. Beginning in ninth grade World History, students have an opportunity to explore three important regions in the developing world: Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The tenth grade year focuses on Western Civilization, with a special emphasis on the western roots of the United States, and the eleventh grade year continues this theme through courses in United States History. During the senior year, history students may choose from a wide selection of electives. Recent history electives have included Latin American History, Asian Studies, Economics, American Politics and Government, and the United States and Russia during the Cold War. The history department offers Advanced Placement courses in United States History, American Politics and Government, and European History.

In addition to the regular curriculum, history students have the opportunity to read and discuss
current events on a daily basis using The New York Times. The Society of Skeptics offers weekly lectures by noted historians, authors, and business and educational leaders. Recent Skeptics speakers have included: CNN’s Lou Dobbs; Columbia history professor Eric Foner; Lafayette professor of history Joshua Sanborn; George Mason University professor of history Peter Mandaville; former governor of New Jersey and chair of recent 9/11 Commission Thomas Kean; and Raymond Burghardt, Blair Class of 1963 and former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. Guided by history department faculty, Blair students have had opportunities in recent years to visit Vietnam, Cambodia, numerous African countries and D-Day invasion beaches.

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