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Teaching the Middle East: Views from a Specialized Public High School in New York City
Abstract
This presentation will focus on the need to make better Middle East-related curricula available to high school teachers. Much of the recent boom in Middle East-related scholarship – in particular that related to the Ottoman Empire - has not yet filtered down into high school world history textbooks, College Board exams, or state curricular standards. A particular focus will be on the role of Middle East-related topics in the AP World History curriculum; part of the presentation will be based on interviews of teachers and students in this course at a specialized high school in New York City. Special attention will be paid to the needs of largely non-specialist teachers for accessible, ready-to-teach, and concise primary and secondary sources that are aligned with College Board curricula and instructional methodology, and of appropriate length for high school settings. Finally, there will be an emphasis on teaching contrasting viewpoints as an antidote to popular conceptions of the Middle East and Islamic world as monolithic entities.
Discipline
Education
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
None