Huntington High School social studies teachers Katie Hanft and Sarah Buchalter coordinated a multi-day learning experience for Advanced Placement Government and Politics course students consisting of a simulation of Congress debating and voting on the Build Back Better Act.
Our students in Huntington live in a world which has witnessed the hopes and fears of the modern age. They live in a community which experiences diversity and opportunity meshed with the naturally concurrent challenges. We educators fully appreciate the importance of guiding our charges in acquiring deeper understandings of our nation’s role in this ever-changing world. We also know that it is incumbent on our students to accept the responsibilities necessary to realize the promise of the American life.
These understandings compel the teachers in the English and Social Studies departments at J. Taylor Finley Middle School and Huntington High School to see their primary objective to be sensitizing students to the multiple viewpoints and historical antecedents which explain the events of our day. We know that reading about the varied human experiences and understandings of the past, as expressed through fiction and the informational writing of others, is the means through which students learn creativity, responsibility and critical thought. It is also understood that history is the school of democracy and literature is a path to the soul. Our teachers are the muses forging the way on these journeys.
In our core courses and electives, students are constantly exposed to essential questions that permeate time and place. The issues, centering on the human experience, are grounded in a thorough study of the facts by means of analysis and interpretation. Research is also a central component to the secondary years of English Language Arts and social studies courses all students are required to satisfactorily complete for graduation.
Joseph Leavy is a longtime member of the Huntington School District’s administrative team. He became chairperson of humanities, 7-12 in July 2011. During the previous six years he served as district director of humanities, K-12.
Mr. Leavy began his career in the district in September 1997 as a social studies teacher. He has taught at both the middle school and high school levels. He currently supervises secondary grade level English and social studies teachers and the 7-12 curriculum and programs in both academic disciplines.
In addition to teaching AP American History, AP US Government and Politics, Participation in Government, Asian Studies, Economics, Regents level Economics, Global and U.S. History, Global Regents prep and ESL Global 9 classes, Mr. Leavy has served as middle school newspaper club advisor, National History Day coordinator, co-facilitator of the WISE student internship program, class advisor and curriculum writer. He has helped author new course proposals.
Mr. Leavy, who was a high school student government president, graduated from St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary in 1984 as class valedictorian. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a minor in philosophy in 1988 from Adelphi, where he also earned also earned a Master of Arts in social studies education in 1991.
Mr. Leavy pursued private language study of Mandarin Chinese at Fu Ren University in Hsinschuang, Taiwan from September 1993 to June 1994 and later went on to earn a second Master of Arts degree in Chinese studies in 2000 from St. John’s University, where he conducted research into the 19th century Taiping Rebellion.
Prior to coming to the district, Mr. Leavy taught at St. Thomas the Apostle School and The Windsor School, worked as an instructor in the Hope for Youth at-risk program and in January 1992 became the first American to teach English at Ta Hwa College of Commerce in Hsinchu, Taiwan. He worked there through June 1994.
A longtime admirer of Theodore Roosevelt, Mr. Leavy worked as a tour guide for the National Parks Service at the former president’s home at Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay. He maintains memberships in a number of historical and professional societies and won the Clio Award from the Phi Alpha Theta Society for “outstanding research” on the role of Ireland’s neutrality in World War II.
Proficient in Mandarin Chinese, Mr. Leavy has traveled extensively throughout Europe and Eastern Europe, Asia and Southeast Asia, including China, Russia and Japan.
Mr. Leavy began participating in a Chinese exchange initiative in 2010 when a group of Huntington students and parents demonstrated a strong interest in engaging in more intense learning about the Chinese language and culture. This led to the establishment of the Asian Studies elective course.
Mr. Leavy was trained in Stony Brook University’s News Literacy program and protocols. This approach of dissecting news for its credibility and reliability, an integral part of the Stony Brook process, has now been incorporated into Huntington’s 12th Participation in Government course curriculum.”
Always striving for intellectual growth and a new challenge, Mr. Leavy obtained his administrative certification through SUNY Stony Brook. In 2010 he worked as a summer school principal for Western Suffolk BOCES.
Mr. Leavy has been featured in a book on the teaching of “deliberation” as a method of fostering participatory democracy and seeking common ground on issues instead of the typical polarization in politics. This was as a result of years of collaborative research through the Kettering Foundation.
A member of the Long Island regional National History Day board, Mr. Leavy has been active in the initiative since 1995.
As members of an ever-changing world, nation and community, our students have witnessed the hopes and challenges of the modern age. As such, students at Huntington High School need to cultivate deeper understandings of our nation’s role in this world and appreciate their responsibilities in our community.
The primary objective of social studies instruction is to sensitize students to the multiple viewpoints and historical antecedents which explain the events of our day. It is also understood that ‘history is the school of democracy.’ Therefore, learning the past will help inform our students of their responsibility to preserve what is great about our nation and world. It is essential for our students to learn, practice and strengthen critical thinking skills as their teachers guide them to strive toward the ideals of equity and justice upon which our nation was founded. Additionally, New York State has aligned the 2014 frameworks by merging Common Core and Social Studies Standards.
In our core courses and electives, students are constantly exposed to essential questions that permeate time and place. The issues, centering on the human experience, are grounded in a thorough study of the facts by means of analysis and interpretation. Research is also a central component to the four years of social studies courses that all students are required to satisfactorily complete for graduation.
The Regents sections on all four grade levels focus on a high level of understanding of the subject matter and a demanding work load. Such expectations fully prepare the students for the New York State Regents Exams in Social Studies, required in Global History in grade 10 and US History in grade 11.
| Grade 9 | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
|---|---|---|---|
Global Hist. & Geo. 9 Regents orGlobal Hist. & Geo. 9 HonorsGlobal History 9 Regents ENLAsian Studies |
Global Hist. & Geo. 10 Regents orGlobal Hist. 10 Regents ENL orAP World HistoryElectivesAP Human GeographyAsian Studies |
U.S Hist. & Govt. Regents orU.S Hist. & Govt. Regents ENLAP U.S. HistoryElectivesAP Human GeographyAP PsychologyCriminal JusticeIntroduction to PhilosophyPsychologyWomen’s StudiesCollege Women’s StudiesAsian StudiesCollege Asian Studies |
Economics and Participation in Govt. orAfrican American Politics orAP U.S. Govt. & Politics andEconomics orAP Microeconomics andAP US Gov't (alt days)AP Macro/microeconomicsElectivesAfrican American PoliticsAP Human GeographyAP PsychologyCriminal JusticeIntroduction to PhilosophyPsychologyWomen’s StudiesCollege Women’s StudiesAsian StudiesCollege Asian Studies |
This course provides academic support for students in grades 9, and 10, who need to meet proficiency in social studies skills and content. The course is designed to enhance skill growth, with a focus on writing, enabling students to achieve on a proficient level. A thorough exploration of the Global History content will also be a key part of the students’ experience.
This is the first of a two-year course of study which will culminate in the Global History Regents exam at the end of the tenth grade. The ninth grade syllabus focuses on Global History eras from ancient times to 1750 A.D. Some of the themes and concepts which are discussed include belief systems, change, culture and intellectual life, economic systems, environment, geography, movement of people and goods, and interdependence. Document analysis is central to the course. Students take a cumulative mid-term and final. NCAA approved
This is the first course in social studies which prepares students for an Advancement Placement level of study in history. The course stresses critical thinking skills, presentation skills, and detailed writing skills. It is intended for students with exceptional ability and interest in history. Grades on Social Studies 8 essays should be 90 or higher on a consistent basis. Writing samples will be taken from class essays in grade 8 as part of the entrance criteria. Students should be willing to give a significant amount of outside study time to meet the demands of this course. A summer reading assignment is strongly encouraged and research projects are also an essential part of the course. A cumulative midterm and final are administered. NCAA approved
Global History 9R/10R ENL is a two-year sequence in Global History, which culminates with the Regents in Global History and Geography. The first year focuses on ancient civilizations, medieval history and early modern times. The second year focuses on modern times, and involves extensive review for the Regents in Global History and Geography, which the students will take at the end of the second year. This course also has a lab on A/B days. NCAA approved
This is the second half of the course which began in ninth grade. This course covers Global History from 1750 until the present. The 10th grade course focuses on modern historical eras, and primary source documents. Students will be required to take the Global History Regents which mandates a thematic essay, constructed responses, and a document based historical essay question. A cumulative midterm is administered in January. The mandated Regents exam required at the end of the course will be used as the final exam for the course. NCAA approved
Global History 9R/10R ENL is a two-year sequence in Global History, which culminates with the Regents in Global History and Geography. The first year focuses on ancient civilizations, medieval history and early modern times. The second year focuses on modern times, and involves extensive review for the Regents in Global History and Geography, which the students will take at the end of the second year. This course also has a lab on A/B days. NCAA approved
The Advanced Placement course in World History is designed to give interested and able students the opportunity to study history in depth. A college textbook is used to provide the background necessary for the student. In addition, the student is required to examine primary and secondary source documents, and explore trends over time and place, as well as conflicting interpretations of history. A full length, AP-style midterm is administered in January. The course will prepare the student to take the Advanced Placement Examination which affords the student the opportunity to receive college credit with a qualifying mark. Students will also be required to take the Global History and Geography Regents as their final exam in the course. A summer reading assignment is strongly encouraged. NCAA approved
This is a survey course and the history of the United States. The emphasis will be on the government of the U.S. and the Constitutional foundations. Further emphasis will be on the United States as a developing industrial and post-industrial nation. Constitutional and legal issues will be explored in depth, as will be the problems of our industrial society in an increasingly complex and technology-oriented world. The essential question: “What is the American Dream and have we fulfilled it as a nation?” is central to the course and allows for interdisciplinary connections with the curriculum in English 11. A cumulative midterm is administered in January. The United States History and Government Regents will be the final exam in the course. NCAA approved
The Advanced Placement course in American History is designed to give interested and able students the opportunity to study American history in depth. A college textbook is used to provide the background necessary for the student. In addition, the student is required to examine primary and secondary documents, as well as conflicting interpretations of history. A full length, AP-style midterm is administered in January. The course will prepare the student to take the Advanced Placement Examination which affords the student the opportunity to receive college credit with a qualifying mark. Students will also be required to take the United States History and Government Regents as their final exam in the course. A summer reading assignment is strongly encouraged. NCAA approved
This course focuses on the formation of effective public policy. Students are taught skills of decision making, deliberation and problem solving in the context of evaluating real issues confronting the communities in which the students live. Central to this course is the manner in which decisions are arrived through involvement of individuals as participating citizens. Another area studied is how citizen influence can be used in policy making at various levels of government. Emphasis will be on real-world issues that are in line with content standards and course assessments. Students are required to participate in government on the local level by attending and summarizing local government meetings. The course culminates in a major final project wherein students name and frame an issue about which they have a great interest. This course satisfies the 1/2 credit senior mandated requirement in Participation in Government. NCAA approved
This course will introduce the basic concepts of economic theory to all students. Areas of study include: Introduction to Economics and Economic Systems; elements of the Economy (Microeconomics); understanding the national economy (Macroeconomics); and issues in the US and World Economies. A final exam and several “real-world” projects are part of this course. This course satisfies the 1⁄2 credit senior mandated requirement in Economics. NCAA approved
African American Politics is an alternative Participation in Government class, fulfilling the Government credit required for all seniors. A particular focus is on numerous groups of people who needed to struggle to obtain their rights, whether it be socially, economically or politically. Social scientists and historians recognize this struggle for equality as a hallmark of the true American experience, and consequently, in this course patriotism and actual American history will be revealed through the lens of those who may have been victimized, thus striving to change what has been unfair in our system. A significant focus is on how the arms of equality have embraced more and more diverse groups as American history progressed, as in the example of the expansion of the right to vote and hold office. In this Government class, the inner mechanics of American and world politics is explored while simultaneously uncovering the political and social challenges that African Americans and others have been confronted with in their striving for greater equality. This course offers rare opportunities for students to hear from actual Civil Rights activists and local historians to give a greater glimpse into the lives and times of those that helped shape our local and national characters. This is a very interactive class, where discussions take place challenging students to reveal experiences and personal views of the world. This course certainly challenges thinking, promotes investigation, and supports students to plan and react to the political dynamics that have both enabled and crippled true American Democracy. All requirements for Participation in Government apply, including experiencing real politics in action. NCAA approved
This course includes an introduction to price theory, business structure, the role of government, and international trade Students who enroll in this course must also meet one semester requirement in Participation in Government and must also take the Advanced Placement Exam in Microeconomics in May. It is highly recommended that a student be proficient in mathematical computations to understand the underlying economic principles that are inherit in this course. This course satisfies the 1⁄2 credit senior mandated requirement in Economics. NCAA approved
The course includes an introduction to measures of economic performance, national income, financial sectors, economic growth, and stabilization policies. Students who enroll in this course must take both Advanced Placement exams in Macroeconomics and Microeconomics in May. This course satisfies both ½ credit senior mandated requirements in Economics and Government. NCAA approved
AP U.S. Government and Politics examines the following six major areas of study: Constitutional influences on the U.S. Government, political beliefs and behavior; the functioning of political parties, the rules of the three branches of the U.S. Government, public policy, and civil liberties and civil rights. This course offers students an opportunity to achieve college credit and study politics on a more challenging level. The AP Exam on U.S. Government and Politics is to be taken in May. This course does not exempt a student from taking the N.Y.S. mandated course in Economics. This course satisfies the 1⁄2 credit senior mandated requirement in Participation in Government. NCAA approved
The aim of the Criminal Justice course is to give students a thorough understanding of the Criminal Justice system as it operates on the local level. Key units include: felonies and misdemeanors, the principals of criminal law, the role of the police and District Attorney, the role of the judge, the role of the defense attorney and the nature of the criminal court procedure and corrections. Activities in the course include field trips, expert speakers and mock trials, all designed to enhance the students’ appreciation for the adversarial nature of criminal litigation. NCAA approved
This course is an introduction to philosophy. The course will explore areas of Meta physics, Epistemology and Ethics in the western tradition. Readings will be taken from the Justin Gaarder novel “Sophies World”. This course will prepare Huntington High students for a life of self-reflection and critical appraisal of their own environment and life. NCAA approved
This introductory course will deal with six basic units: learning and conditioning; memory and motivation; the human brain; perception and parapsychology; stages of human development; deviant behavior and therapy techniques. The course will include lectures, experiments, guest speakers, and audio-visual materials. A final exam is given in this course. NCAA approved
This full year Advanced Placement Psychology course is offered to qualified students who wish to complete studies equivalent to an introductory semester college course in psychology. AP Psychology introduces students to the systemic and scientific study of the behavior and mental processes of human beings and other animals. Students are exposed to the psychological facts and principles, and phenomena associated with each of the major subfields within psychology. They also learn about the ethics and methods psychologists use in their scientific practice. NCAA approved
This course explores the culture and history of Asia, specifically China in the modern world. Foreign and economic relations with the United States will be explored. Cultural differences and similarities between the East and West will be addressed by reading translations of Chinese thinkers including: Confucius, Mencius, and Lao Zi. A college credit option is offered through St. John’s University for a fee and after criteria is met. Additional collegiate level assignments would have to be completed along with all appropriate procedures at St. John’s. Students in this optional program will receive three units of college credit. Application and academic criteria required. NCAA approved
This course will focus on the social history of American women from the time of the first women’s movement to the present with particular emphasis on the last sixty years. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the main historical arguments about American women’s lives, and to also undertake research in primary sources, both documentary and in person, regarding women. This course will include quest speakers and a variety of projects and activities. A college credit option is offered through St. John’s University for a fee and after criteria is met. Additional collegiate level assignments would have to be completed along with all appropriate procedures at St. John’s. Students in this optional program will receive three units of college credit. Application and academic criteria required. NCAA approved
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY – Course #249AP Human Geography studies the patterns of phenomena on the earth’s surface, the processes that create those patterns, and the interaction between humans and their environment. The course is designed to introduce students to the systematic study of processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students learn to employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human socioeconomic organization and its environmental consequences. NCAA Approved
The aim of social studies instruction is to help young adults learn to carry on the free society they have inherited. Students also learn to make whatever changes modern conditions demand or creative imagination suggests that are consistent with a free society’s basic principles and values. Finley’s social studies program is based on the New York State Grade 7 - 8 Curriculum in Social Studies: Two Year Sequence of Study. In both levels of study, teachers develop and explore several thematic, chronologically organized units on the history of the United States. The two courses also incorporate the New York State adopted Common Core anchor standards, and the new 2014 Social Studies Frameworks.
This course is required of all 7th grade students. Major units of study include: The Global Heritage of the American People Prior to 1500; European Exploration and Colonization of the Americas; Creating a New Nation; Experiments in Government; Manifest Destiny: Life in the New Nation; Causes and events of the Civil War. Students can opt to delve into greater detail by researching a specific American history topic tied to the annual National History Day theme. Instructors also provide rich project-based lessons which allow for a full social studies approach that ties together historical, geographic, economic and social inquiries. A final exam and departmental midyear exams assess students’ knowledge and skills in United States history, geography and document analysis.
This course is required of all 8th grade students. Major units of study include: The Constitution; review of The Civil War and Reconstruction; an Industrial society; the United States as an Independent Nation in an Increasingly Interdependent World; the United States Between the Wars; the United States Assumes Worldwide Responsibilities; the Changing Nature of the American People from WWII to the Present; Citizenship in Today’s World. A midterm assesses student growth. These assessments also reflect an emphasis on student understanding of the geography of the United States. Students can opt to delve into greater detail by researching a specific American history topic tied to the annual National History Day theme. Instructors also provide rich project-based lessons which allow for a full social studies approach that ties together historical, geographic, economic and social inquires. In June, all eighth graders will take a final which evaluates students’ learning of the content of grade 8.
Please note: All eligible students for our 9th grade Honors Social Studies programs will be recommended by a committee. In determining the best placement for the student, reading level, research skills and performance on exams will be reviewed. Students should maintain an average of 90, or better, throughout 8th grade and score in the 90’s on the 8th grade final in June to indicate appropriate placement in 9th grade honors.
This course was created to meet the needs of ENL students who require assistance in reading, writing and speaking English. The ESL Social Studies course is the same as the other classes, however, the instruction is modified and individualized to meet the needs of the students. Students are placed in ESL Social Studies as a result of a language evaluation and recommendation of the ENL Director and Chairperson of Humanities.
Social Studies Lab is designed to provide additional support to students. Instruction focuses on the skills, conceptual understanding, and academic language students need to be successful in social studies.
| Last Name | First | Position | |
| Leavy | Joseph | Chairperson | jleavy |
| Grofik | JoAnn | Secretary | jgrofick |
| Acevedo | Gene | High School | gacevedo |
| Bisogno | Frederick | High School | fbisogna |
| Bruckbauer | Erik | High School | ebruckbauer |
| Buchalter | Sarah | High School | sbuchalter |
| Crugnale | Peter | High School | pcrugnale |
| Desiderio | Lauren | High School | ldesiderio |
| Donovan | Ken | High School | kdonovan |
| Fatscher | Ryan | High School, Finley | rfatscher |
| Graber | James | High School | jgraber |
| Hanft | Kaitlyn | High School | khanft |
| Tedeschi | Camille | High School | ctedeschi |
| Tello | Esmeralda | High School | etello |
| Finneran | Kim | Finley | Finnerank |
| Jasinski | Melissa | Finley | mjasinski |
| McCabe | Michael | Finley | mccabem |
| Richter | Jarrad | Finley | jrichter |
| Whitfield | Angela | Finley | longa |
