MEEA Executive Director Olivia Griset’s public comment on revised social studies standards

Public Comment from Olivia Griset
MEEA Executive Director

Dear Laura Cyr,

My name is Olivia Griset, and I am the Executive Director of the Maine Environmental Education Association (MEEA). MEEA is a nonprofit statewide professional network representing over 2,000 educators in Maine, including classroom teachers as well as community-based educators. I am pleased to submit comments today on behalf of MEEA in full support of the proposed rules and changes to the social studies standards as detailed in Chapter 132.

For over forty years, we have supported Maine educators in providing high quality, locally relevant, environmental, and place-based education for youth. While we see environmental education as interdisciplinary and spanning all ages and content areas, social studies educators are core to our network.

At MEEA, we recognize the Wabanaki as the first peoples of this land that we care for today, and we see the importance of a strong Wabanaki studies education for students across what is now called Maine. Our organization is deeply committed to building more just and equitable communities through the power of education.  We believe it is critically important that all students gain a strong understanding of Wabanaki studies, African American studies, and the history of genocide including the Holocaust as part of their social studies education.  The proposed revisions to the standards will open space for deeper learning, critical thinking, and civil discourse across our education system and promote unity through communities on a local and state level. We are grateful for the immense time and energy educators put into the work of revising the standards, and we recommend that these revised standards become the new social studies standards for the state of Maine.

Thank you for your work advancing education in Maine and for your consideration of our comments on this important issue.

Sincerely,
Olivia L. Griset
Executive Director
Maine Environmental Education Association