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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 3d

“When democracy deteriorates, you need more and better civic education. If there is a pandemic, you need to send in the nurses and the doctors. It’s the same thing with a democracy crisis — civic educators are the nurses.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/w...

Civics Education Struggles, Even as Government and Politics Saturate Daily Life

www.nytimes.com

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 10d

During @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social Book Banning Week, it’s important to remember the 1st Amendment prevents the government from regulating or restricting speech or other expression based on its content or viewpoint. www.ala.org/bbooks

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 23d

“The Constitution belongs to you in all its complexity. You inherit both its promises and its unfinished business. Register if you can. Learn your rights. Ask hard questions about power. And then act…”

wordinblack.com/2025/09/teac...

Teaching the Constitution — Truthfully — From a D.C. Classroom

In a city without full representation, Dr. Shelina Warren teaches students the Constitution is theirs — both its promises and its flaws.

wordinblack.com

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Sep 13

Attention social studies educators: The Middle States Council for the Social Studies call for proposals is now open for the Feb 27-28 #MSCSS26 conference in Newark DE, submissions are due by Oct. 17th. Submit your proposal today! sites.google.com/view/mscss20... #sschat

Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Aug 30

The 2026 Middle States Social Studies Conference is gearing up for Feb 27-28, 2026 in Newark DE. We’re looking for awesome session proposals, exhibitors, and award nominees. Register now and check out other details here: sites.google.com/view/mscss20... #MSCSS26

Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Aug 8

🎉 20 Delaware civics teachers assembled for a powerful day of learning, laughter, & collaboration at our We the People institute! From candy bar hearings 🍫 to improv games ⚡️, we explored how to help students speak, listen, & engage like citizens using WTP & DE model lessons. @decivics.bsky.social

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Aug 5

🇺🇸 25 years strong! The Democracy Project at @udelaware.bsky.social is still shaping the future, 1 civics teacher at a time. From Dover to D.C. to Philly, this year’s @decivics.bsky.social institute empowered educators to spark civic participation with students. #sschat

www.udel.edu/academics/co...

UD's Delaware Center for Civics Education Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary | IPA | Biden School | University of Delaware

The University of Delaware's Center for Civics Education celebrated the Democracy Project Summer Institute's 25th anniversary by traveling to historical sites and landmarks from Dover to Philly and Wa...

www.udel.edu

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Jul 4

Frederick Douglass’ words are well-worth a reread this #4thofJuly “Oppression makes a wise man mad…With brave men there is always a remedy for oppression.” #sschat

www.blackpast.org/african-amer...

(1852) Frederick Douglass, "What, To The Slave, Is The Fourth Of July"

Explore the speech "What, To The Slave, Is The Fourth Of July" delivered by Frederick Douglass in 1852, including full text and historical context.

www.blackpast.org

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Jun 18

Agreed.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Jun 18

“There’s a lot of evidence that having knowledge about the world is important for reading comprehension…Students who have broader bases of knowledge about the natural & social world do better on reading assessments, even when controlling for other things.” #sschat www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Middle Schools Often Prioritize English and Math Over Other Subjects. Should They?

An Illinois district is equalizing time across the four major content areas. But the decision comes with trade-offs.

www.edweek.org

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · Jun 14

Just stating some facts about the U.S Constitution #NoKings

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 30

The full agenda is now posted, check it out here: www.socialstudies.org/2025svcagenda

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 25

Registration open for the #NCSS Virtual Conference June 25-26 focusing on Civil Discourse. Save the date for June 25th at 1pm EDT for my session w/Tim Shaffer - Mic Drop or Open Mind: Practicing Civil Discourse in the Classroom #sschat

www.socialstudies.org/svc2025

2025 NCSS Summer Virtual Conference

Wednesday, June 25 - Thursday, June 26, 2025 The Power of Civil Discourse: Fostering Empathy and Understanding in the Classroom

www.socialstudies.org

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 22

The #Delaware House takes steps to enshrine early voting, vote by mail, and the restoration of voting rights for felons who have served their time. Expanding voting rights aligns with the principle of majority rule, crucial for our democratic republic. www.delawareonline.com/story/news/p...

Delaware lawmakers push for felon voting rights, early voting rules with these bills

Delaware's rules around early voting and the rights of felons to vote are debated by a legislative committee. Here's where they stand.

www.delawareonline.com

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 13

Reminder: School
Board elections in #Delaware today; polls are open from 7am-8pm. Always a good day for democracy when you can vote.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 7

With the K-8s, the combination of the elementary & middle school funding models can create challenges like what you’re describing. And if school leaders can’t staff properly, then they can’t schedule either.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 6

Oh wow, they actually enforce licensure laws there? Must be nice! The number of times I’ve had to crack up fake “humanities” is disconcerting.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 6

Huh, interesting and glad CPS has figured out a model that works. It was a constant battle with admins to hire enough SS teachers, push them to not double-block ELA & Math and semesterize SS. Traditional middle schools always did a better job than K-8s, which were being slowly removed when I left.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 6

I’ve seen 5-8 more commonly with charters, though the motivation there seems to be partially culture building and partially trying to encourage early decision-making by anxious parents who are trying to maximize opportunities for their own kids.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 6

Ha, amusing on the second reason. The transition is easier but my experience with these in DC made me think their costs outweighed benefits, at least given the funding model DC used. You lose economies of scale to properly fund, staff, & teach the 6-8 students, SS, Science, & arts suffer.

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 6

What do you think are the benefits of K-8 vs 6-8 schools?

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 5

Yes, and I feel like it’s slowly driving me crazy. I’ve started using the Simple Call Blocker app to block ranges of numbers because though I block individual numbers, they always call back from different ones. It’s helped a little. apps.apple.com/us/app/simpl...

‎Simple Call Blocker

‎Simple Call Blocker is a utility that lets you block unwanted calls to your iPhone. It allows you to block individual numbers, or ranges of numbers. You may also add individual numbers or ranges o...

apps.apple.com

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 2

😂

Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 2

If we hope to remain a democracy, we cannot mandate educators to parrot partisan lies. It is our duty as social studies educators to stand up against ahistorical efforts to mislead a generation of students and to resist those who would try to use schools to advance their anti-democratic beliefs. 2/2

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · May 2

As someone who has worked on/with state social studies standards for many states, this is among the most egregious examples of conspiracy thinking to make it into state SS standards I have ever seen, and through a clearly duplicitous process. 1/2 #sschat www.oudaily.com/news/oklahom...

State education board members say they were unaware of social studies standards changes before vote

OKLAHOMA CITY — Three members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education said they weren’t aware of last-minute rewrites before they voted on proposed academic standards for social studies classes

www.oudaily.com

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