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Scott Abbott

@scotteabbott.bsky.social
1.3K followers 1.2K following 166 posts

Assistant Director, @DECivics.bsky.social @udelaware.bsky.social, former #Socialstudies Director @dcpublicschools.bsky.social, #civics teacher #democracy defender, opinions my own

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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 08/08/2026
“8 of 10 Americans telling us we need more civic education is a wake-up call to educators & policymakers.” There is tremendous opportunity to advance civics education by expanding time for social studies in grades K-8, which also support literacy goals. www.columbiagorgenews.com/online_featu...
columbiagorgenews.com
New Poll: 80% of Americans Say the Country Isn't Teaching Enough Civics
(NewsUSA) - A survey sponsored by More Perfect and the Daniels Fund finds a rare consensus across age, party, and geography that civic education needs more investment even as confidence
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Interesting new data on youth voter registration from @civicyouth.bsky.social shows mixed results. Positives: overall #s are up, DE is up 8% Area for growth: 18-19 year olds are lagging. Voting is a critical outcome of effective civics education - we have more to do. circle.tufts.edu/latest-resea...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Interesting findings from @pewresearch describe the distinct ways American engage in civic life, as Mobilizers (9%), Connectors (28%), Spectators (31%), or Outsiders (31%). Which are you now? Which do you want to be? What do we want our students to be? www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
NAEP’s governing board recently announced that states can, at no cost, opt into state-level reporting for the civics assessments." This is a great opportunity for states, including #Delaware, to help support more and better civics education. #CivxNow #sschat fordhaminstitute.org/ohio/comment...
fordhaminstitute.org
How are Ohio students doing nationally in civics? It’s time to find out.
Known as the “Nation’s Report Card,” the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) has long provided the clearest yardstick by which states can compare their students’ math and reading perfor...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Proud to be part of @decivics.bsky.social and helping to lead the work of supporting high quality civics and history instruction to students across Delaware, and beyond.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
🚨Attention civics educators🚨: The Delaware Center for Civics Education is hiring! More than ever, civics education is necessary to ensure students are prepared to be inquisitive, informed, & engaged participants in civic life. Apply now! #CivXNow #SSChat www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/44...
linkedin.com
University of Delaware hiring Civics Education Manager in Newark, DE | LinkedIn
Posted 10:49:13 AM. Job no: 503030 College / VP Area: Biden School Public Pol/AdminWork type: StaffLocation: Newark…See this and similar jobs on LinkedIn.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
“A democracy is all about admitting that you might be wrong: otherwise, you would prefer to live in an autocracy structured around your specific viewpoint, where your policy stance would always win.” www.wakeuptopolitics.com/p/what-we-lo...
wakeuptopolitics.com
What We Lose When We Always Think We’ve Won
Do we want democracy or our own personal dictatorship?
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Come join the team @decivics.bsky.social, apply now!
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Delaware Center for Civics Education @decivics.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
🚨 Attention civics educators 🚨: We are looking for a new full-time staff member to join our team at the Delaware Center for Civics Education at the University of Delaware in support of the Literacy for We the People program. #CivXNow #sschat Apply here: careers.udel.edu/cw/en-us/job...
careers.udel.edu
University of Delaware - Details - Associate Policy Scientist
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
🚨Attn: Elementary & middle schools concerned with improving literacy - you cannot get there by increasing ELA & Intervention time while cutting social studies & science. Check out new statement explaining why: www.mdcss.org/advocacy #sschat #civxnow
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Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Reposting this poem that I wrote last fall because...well... [waves hands at the world]
A poem titled "Humanities" made up of a set of 6 haikus The text of the poem reads:

Who needs history?
Literature? Languages? 
Art? Philosophy?

These can only help
    you to better understand
        our humanity.

Best to let machines
    read your books. And write your books.
        Do your art for you.

You will never need
    to think. Never need to learn.
       You’ll learn to like it.

And when the end comes
    you’ll have never burdened your
        soul with any growth.

Someone selling this
sees profit in destroying
your humanity.


- John Wyatt Greenlee
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
High school students in #Delaware are mostly too young to vote, but they are charged with staying informed, participating in the civic process, & communicating w/elected officials according to state civics standards. #sschat www.delawareonline.com/story/news/e...
delawareonline.com
Delaware students are staging walkouts against ICE. What are their rights?
Sussex Central High School saw some 200 students stage a walkout on Wednesday, Feb. 11, mirroring other efforts in Delaware and across the country.
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Zinn Education Project @zinnedproject.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Next time you are in Washington, D.C., visit the Carter G. Woodson statue & National Park Service historic site. See: nps.gov/cawo/index.htm Defend right to teach and celebrate Black history in schools & national park sites. #FreedomtoLearn #TeachOutsideTextbook 📷 by @scotteabbott.bsky.social
sculpture of man (Carter Woodson) in a suit, sitting on a ledge with arm rest on books. trees in background and steps leading up to ledge
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
New statement from Big City Social Studies encourages social studies educators to "bear responsibility for an honest civics education that speaks to the present moment and engages young people with the unfolding world around them." Read the full statement: bigcitysocialstudies.org/video-and-so...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Appreciate Professor Richard Perloff's (Cleveland State U) argument for more (and better) civics education for college students. #CivXNow www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025...
cleveland.com
Why college civics requirements are urgently needed: Richard M. Perloff
Reform of civics education is the most constructive way to prevent U.S. democracy from devolving further.  For in the end, democracy is precious, fragile, and never guaranteed, writes guest columnist ...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
Highly useful new infographic on #NewsLiteracy from the latest issue of @udelaware.bsky.social magazine w/specific & helpful advice and shout outs to @newslit.org, @allsidesnow.bsky.social, @politifact.bsky.social, @netflix.com Smart ideas for savvy consumers of media given our wild info landscape.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” – Thomas Paine, The American Crisis (Dec. 23, 1776)
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
“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...
nytimes.com
Civics Education Struggles, Even as Government and Politics Saturate Daily Life
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
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 · 22/09/2025
“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...
wordinblack.com
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.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 13/09/2025
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
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 30/08/2025
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
The 2026 Middle States Social Studies Conference is gearing up for Feb 27-28, 2026 in Newark DE.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
🎉 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 · 05/08/2025
🇺🇸 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...
udel.edu
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...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
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...
blackpast.org
(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.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
“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...
edweek.org
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.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 14/06/2025
Just stating some facts about the U.S Constitution #NoKings
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
The full agenda is now posted, check it out here: www.socialstudies.org/2025svcagenda
socialstudies.org
2025 Summer Virtual Conference: Agenda
The agenda below is subject to change. Please note that all times are listed according to the Eastern Time Zone.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 25/05/2025
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
socialstudies.org
2025 NCSS Summer Virtual Conference
Wednesday, June 25 - Thursday, June 26, 2025 The Power of Civil Discourse: Fostering Empathy and Understanding in the Classroom
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
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...
delawareonline.com
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.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 13/05/2025
Reminder: School Board elections in #Delaware today; polls are open from 7am-8pm. Always a good day for democracy when you can vote.
Smiling voter in the rain
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
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...
oudaily.com
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
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Brian Kane @briank3387.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Old North Church in Boston last night on the 250th anniversary of Paul Revere's ride.
A projection on the outside of the Old North Church reading "Let the WARNING ride forth ONCE MORE: TYRANNY is at OUR DOOR"
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 13/04/2025
Enjoying the new book from my friends @madisonteacher.bsky.social & @glennwiebe.bsky.social, which reads like conversations I’ve had with them about social studies but is chock full of practical strategies for engaging & effective social studies instruction #sschat www.corwin.com/books/social...
Cover of the book The Social Studies Field Guide by Joe Schmidt and Glenn Wiebe
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
“In social studies—a subject to which schools have historically given short shrift in favor of devoting time and resources to math and reading—the loss of these kinds of supplemental resources and programs may take an especially big toll.” #sschat www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...
edweek.org
What National Endowment for the Humanities Cuts Could Mean for Social Studies Teachers
The agency made grants for professional development and supported nationwide history education programs. Now these offerings may disappear.
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Manisha Sinha @profmsinha.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Historian here: “To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” ― Theodore Roosevelt
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 05/04/2025
Taught my 13th graders this week how the U.S. Constitution separates power to prevent tyranny and how the 1st Amendment protects free speech & peaceable assembly to petition the government. Also finished Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny w/ lesson 10 on the need for in-person action. #HandsOff
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. 10. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
Glad to see this action from Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, and many other AGs from around the country. The rule of law is foundational to our democracy.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Etymology of State Names from @locations.bsky.social, very interesting! #sschat
Map of the Unites States showing the etymology of state names with origins coming from Native Americans, the British, French, Spanish, American, Greek, Polynesian, and two that are just made up or mistakes.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
Need to discuss pardons with your students? Check out the always well-balanced Civics in Real Life on Presidential Pardons put out by @loufreyfjcc.bsky.social a few months ago. #sschat floridacitizen.org/wp-content/u...
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 14/03/2025
“It is bad enough to forget the past; it is even worse to intentionally deny the public access to what we remember, have documented, and have expended public resources to disseminate.” Powerful new statement from @historians.org on recent attacks on history www.historians.org/news/aha-oah...
historians.org
AHA–OAH Joint Statement on Federal Censorship of American History
The American Historical Association (AHA) and the Organization of American Historians (OAH) have released a joint statement condemning federal censorship of American history.
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Christopher Martell @chrismartell.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
Teachers! Happening Saturday! Join us for this national town hall featuring teachers from across the country who will share about their experiences and offer some thinking for moving forward. All K-12 teachers are welcome. Use the attached flyer or click here to RSVP. us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
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Christopher Martell @chrismartell.bsky.social · 05/03/2025
An important statement from Scholars for Social Justice about the current situation in the United States. Please give it a read. www.scholarsforsocialjustice.com/universities...
Preview of linked full statement.
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Always a treat to hear the wisdom of Karen Korematsu, today during her closing keynote at the #MSCSS25 conference. She pushes educators to stand their ground and teach students to know their rights, to live up to the legacy of her father, Fred Korematsu #sschat
Karen Korematsu Attendees at closing keynote Karen Korematsu closing keynote
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Dr. Matthew Mingle delivers the keynote address as the 2025 Daniel Roselle awardee at the #MSCSS25 luncheon during which he encourages educators to consider kindness and inclusiveness with our students. #sschat
Matthew Mingle speaks at a podium Roselle Award LuncheonProgram description for Matthew Mingle’s Roselle Award
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Delaware social studies educators are well-represented among award winners at #MSCSS25 during the President’s Award Breakfast during day 2 of the conference #sschat
Erin Sullivan, winner of the Teacher to Teacher AwardHolly Golder, winner of the Distinguished Service Award Ashley Tedesco, winner of the Bernice Samalonis Award Riann Warman, winner of the Collins-Skinner Award
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
Fascinating discussion this morning during the #MSCSS25 President’s Panel about the challenges & opportunities for social studies in the mid-Atlantic region & beyond #sschat
Presidents panel participants sit at long table Snapshots of each panelist with a panel description
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The Civics Center @thecivicscenter.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
Today, our Manager of Educator Development, Charlotte Nichols (a veteran HS civics teacher), is at the 2025 Middle States Social Studies Conference in Lancaster PA #MSCSS25. We have plenty of free training and resources for educators interested in helping their students become civically engaged!
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 28/02/2025
We are off and running with the 2025 Middle States Social Studies Conference in Lancaster PA #MSCSS25
Exhibitor tables in an interior courtyard Session 1 room with presenter Dr. Jim Beeghly Session 2 with presenter Cara Borja from Population Education Participants stand in a circle as they prepare for a lesson simulation
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Scott Abbott @scotteabbott.bsky.social · 18/02/2025
Excited for #MSCSS25, the 121st annual conference of the Middle States Council for the Social Studies, coming up Feb. 28-Mar. 1 in Lancaster, PA. With sessions, featured speakers, a Presidential Panel, & networking meals, it will be a great chance to learn & connect! sites.google.com/view/mscss-2...
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