Educational Goals
The Social Studies Department is committed to the following educational goals for the students of Nicolet High School:
A. Enlightened democratic citizenship in order to participate effectively in local, state, national, and international affairs;
B. Appreciation and understanding of the fundamental documents and ideals of our American heritage, and a respect for and knowledge of the diverse contributions to our national heritage;
C. Comprehension of global history and the impact of that heritage;
D. Responsible stewardship of geographic, economic, and human resources through an understanding of their various relationships;
E. Acquisition of knowledge and skills related to the several subjects that study the motives, actions, and consequences of human beings as they live individually and interdependently.

Educational Skills
In order to meet these goals, students are thereby encouraged to acquire the ability to:
A. Use reasoning processes in economic, political, and social decision-making.
B. Comprehend the vocabulary, logic, and methodology of the several academic subject areas that make up the social studies;
C. Communicate ideas through speaking, listening, writing, and the use of other symbols with clarity and conviction;
D. Choose and use the most appropriate technology to research and develop social studies and historical understandings.

Democratic Character And Attitudes
The democratic character is valued in this nation, and therefore students are encouraged to develop:
A. A quality of open-mindedness that is reflected in respect for another point of view, tolerance for ambiguity, passion for truth, and respect for facts;
B. Sensitivity to various differences including those surrounding race, religion, gender, ability, and ethnicity;
C. The ability to make personal choices characterized by thoughtfulness, courage, integrity, and honor.

The Social Studies Teacher
To help students attain all of the above, Nicolet Social Studies teachers should have and maintain:
A. Extensive knowledge in areas of academic specialization;
B. A command of professional education and skill in teaching;
C. Curricula based at least partially on adopted standards;
D. Sensitivity to adolescent development;
E. Appropriate expertise on the uses of contemporary technology in the social studies classroom;
F. Active connections to and participation in professional associations providing leadership whenever possible;
G. A global view concerning the problems of people, the planet, and their interdependence;
H. Classrooms which foster the free contest of ideas, rationality, intellectual growth, independence, enthusiasm, and creativity.

Vision
In order to maintain our responsibilities as described above, the Social Studies Department envisions the following:
A. Increasing the use of and access to various technologies, computers in particular, to more closely meet our goals and the standards of the district;
B. Examining and reshaping curriculum based upon the needs of the students, the latest research and practices in our profession, and the standards mandated by the district and state;
C. Improving teacher's knowledge of the latest theories and methods of the social studies through active participation in professional opportunities;
D. Enhancing students and teacher learning through travel programs such as close up in Washington D.C. while remaining open to other domestic and international opportunities.

Much of the above was liberally and gratefully borrowed from the following sources:
National Standards For History, National Center for History in the Schools, 1994.
"Shaker Heights High School Program Planning Guide," 1993.
Social Studies Curriculum Planning Resources: A publication of National Council for the Social Studies, 1990.
Wisconsin Guide to Curriculum Planning in Social Studies, WI DPI, 1986.