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Teacher gets this close to history

A weeklong fellowship in D.C. gives Largo High teacher Scott Kaplan an in-depth look at the U.S. House.

By JOSE CARDENAS
Published July 3, 2007

	Kaplan was one of just nine teachers and the only one from Florida to participate last week in the fellowship program run by the Office of the Historian in the House of Representatives.
[Times photo: Willie J. Allan Jr.]

LARGO - The first Congress, Largo High School teacher Scott Kaplan learned last week, didn't exactly meet on time.

The year was 1789. And according to that year's Congressional Journal, which Kaplan examined at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., last week, it took 2 1/2 weeks for enough members to arrive in the then-capital of New York City for a quorum.

Examining firsthand how the U.S. House of Representatives' first session began is just one way, Kaplan said, his week as a House Fellow will improve the history classes he teaches.

"I couldn't touch it, but I could breathe on it ... I can certainly make it more real for students, " said Kaplan, who teaches government and geography to freshmen at Largo High. "I can say, 'I saw this. This is how it really works.' "

Kaplan was one of just nine teachers and the only one from Florida to participate last week in the fellowship program run by the Office of the Historian in the House of Representatives.

Deputy Historian Fred Beuttler said his office solicited applications from teachers in 12 congressional districts selected by seniority of the representatives. Kaplan hails from the district of Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, who is exploring establishing a "government institute" at St. Petersburg College when he retires next year.

The focus was teachers who teach government or American history.

"We are trying to make the largest impact we can on people who are going to be using this kind of material, " Beuttler said.

Kaplan, 43, lives in Largo. He has taught in Pinellas schools for 17 years.

His teaching philosophy revolves around urging students to vote.

"If you don't get involved in the voting, then ultimately you let others make the decisions, " Kaplan said.

His application for the fellowship included a lesson plan focused on Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution, which establishes the powers of Congress.

In Washington, the sessions with guest speakers, critiques of teaching lessons and trips to the floor began at 8:30 a.m., Kaplan said. The day ended after 10 p.m.

The speaker for one session, for example, was Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., former House Rules Committee chairman. Dreier offered the fellows insight into how the majority uses the rules to impose their will.

Beuttler said an important part of the fellowship was the examination of the teachers' lesson plans. He noted that Dreier's presentation will likely improve Kaplan's teaching plan.

"Scott is adding that section of the rules committee to his lesson plan, " Beuttler said.

To meet his end of the bargain, Kaplan said that in August he will give a seminar to other government and history teachers in Pinellas high schools.

The lesson plans he and the other teachers took to Washington eventually will go up on the Office of the Historian's Web site.

"I will share my information with other teachers so they can have those resources as well, " Kaplan said.

[Last modified July 3, 2007, 08:16:26]