Social Studies

About Us: Social Studies Department

Welcome to the Dover Public Schools Social Studies Department. Led by Ms. Cynthia Bass, District Supervisor of Social Studies and Gifted & Talented Education, our department is committed to providing a comprehensive social studies education that prepares students to be active and informed members of society.

Our Mission Our mission is guided by the New Jersey Department of Education to furnish learners with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and perspectives essential for active participation in local, state, national, and global communities. Through social studies education, we aim to cultivate informed, contributing citizens who are engaged in the world around them.

Our Goals Our educational objectives are to foster a population that:

• Engages as civic-minded, globally aware, and socially responsible individuals.
• Actively participates and exemplifies the fundamental values of democracy and human rights at all community levels.
• Makes informed decisions about various events through inquiry and analysis.
• Values diversity, considers multiple perspectives, and promotes cultural understanding.
• Understands and recognizes the relationships and interdependencies between people, places, and economic resources.
• Utilizes critical media literacy skills effectively when interacting with technology and communicating globally.
• Skillfully discerns fact from misinformation and critically evaluates the validity and relevance of information.

Recent Successes and Projects Our department has undertaken significant projects, including a district-wide initiative where students researched and analyzed aspects of Muslim-American heritage. Additionally, forty students from Dover Middle School had the enriching experience of attending the Hamilton musical on Broadway, deepening their understanding of historical narratives through the arts.

Curricular Initiatives and Partnerships Our social studies teachers collaborate to integrate diverse historical perspectives into the curriculum. Throughout the academic year, we celebrate and study various cultural heritages, including Hispanic, Native American, Muslim American, Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and LGBTQ+ histories. Our students also engage with critical social issues through the study of the Amistad case, civics, climate change, the Holocaust, and the rights of persons with disabilities.

Our department is dedicated to developing a thorough understanding of history and its continuous impact on the present and future, preparing our students for responsible and informed citizenship.