Hinsdale D86 Leader Pushes Back Against Board

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's board appears poised to soon reverse planned changes to social studies courses, but the acting superintendent warned that such a decision could be "very rash."

At last week's board meeting, member Debbie Levinthal criticized the district's plan to de-emphasize European history.

Under the district's long-term plan, Advanced Placement European History will no longer be a part of the honors track for sophomores. It is being replaced by AP Modern World History. AP European History is set to become an elective for juniors and seniors.

In late March, social studies department members presented the plan to the old board. A new majority took control after April's election.

Most of the members present at the meeting said they wanted to reverse the changes, praising AP European History as a successful program for students. They wanted to take action at their June 8 meeting.

But Acting Superintendent Chris Covino, who plans to leave for another job June 30, urged the board against such a move. He said a group of social studies teachers worked for more than three years on developing a plan. Quickly reversing the changes, he said, would be "very rash."

He said the district could examine students' choices over the next two "buffer" years when both history courses would be available for sophomores.

"We cannot value the teachers' work and then not value it when we don't like the work that has come out of the committee," said Covino, who became the acting superintendent last month upon Superintendent Tammy Prentiss' undefined "leave of absence."

Board President Catherine Greenspon said no board member expressed a lack of support for teachers.

"I absolutely do not appreciate every time the board has a question that it is automatically an attack or repudiation of the work that has been done. It is our duty to ask questions if we have them," she said.

Added member Kay Gallo, "I can trust the administration and teachers, but I verify."

Member Jeff Waters said the social studies department presented no data for the switch.

"There is only data to support where we have been and where we should stay," he said.

Covino said Waters was right there was no local data. But he said the district has plenty of data from other schools.

Referring to AP Modern World History, Covino said, "This is a well-established Advanced Placement course that is offered in a number of different places to hundreds of thousands of kids who do very well on this test."

In the March presentation, social studies teachers said AP Modern World History would include more cultures than just those in Europe.

"Some students see themselves in-depth in the curriculum. Other students don't see themselves at all," said Kathy Lencioni, chairwoman of South's social studies department. "Some students only see themselves through the lens of oppression in the curriculum through slavery and imperialism."

However, Central teacher Christopher Freiler told the board last week that he took exception to such statements, urging members to reverse the changes.

"The position seems based on an ideological rather than a pedagogical perspective that approaches historical studies with predetermined identities," said Freiler, who teaches AP European History.

Waters later said it was not easy for Freiler to come forward, but it was "super appreciated."

At the end of the more than hour-long discussion, the board seemed to agree that action needed to be taken to reverse the change.