NCSS 2022

ACPC at the NCSS 2022
Location: Philadelphia, PA - Pennsylvania Convention Center
Dates: December 1-4, 2022

102nd Annual National Council Social Studies Convention Report
Philadelphia - Pennsylvania Convention Center

The 102nd National Council for Social Studies Convention took place at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street in Philadelphia, PA. There were 3,648 educators in attendance. This is the largest professional association in the country devoted solely to social studies education, NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. With members in all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 35 countries. NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary and college teachers of history, civics, geography, economics, political sciences, sociology anthropology and law related education. The NCSS membership represents K-12 classroom teachers, college and university faculty members, curriculum designers and social studies supervisors.
In attendance were Raymond Glembocki, President of ACPC and co-chairman of the exhibit; Debbie Majka, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Poland, Peter Obst, President of the Polish Heritage Society Philadelphia - former adjunct professor at Lasalle University; Tom Payne, past president of ACPC, Board of Directors of the JPII Foundation in Washington, DC, past president of the Polish American Arts Association of Washington, DC. and Cecilia Glembocki, coordinator of the Polish Perspectives exhibit.
The focus of exhibit was to present an accurate view of Polish Culture through its historical aspects, cultural and traditional traditions. The description of the Polish Perspectives exhibit is as follows:
Many items related to Notable Poles were presented in poster, bookmarks and in a DVD format. Educators were directed to the little know fact that the Polish Craftsmen who arrived in the Jamestown Colony were the first craftsmen who made useable glass items for export to England. They were responsible for the survival of the colony through their digging of wells, making pot ash, tar and pitch. All these products were important to the growth of Jamestown colony. The colony prospered through the Polish influence.
More than 20,000 leaflets about the Polish Craftsmen in Jamestown have been distributed in 6 welcome centers located near the Jamestown settlement in Jamestown. American history books never mentioned the contributions that the Poles made in the colony.
They were the first to hold a work stoppage and later gained the right to vote in 1619, They also were responsible to have the first apprenticeship program in the colony.
Our sainted Pope St. John Paul II stressed the fact that we should keep our heritage alive. To commemorate Polish traditions, there were examples of straw ornaments and wycinaki on the Christmas tree. Booklets of traditions on Polish Christmas and Easter were available for educators. Many educators enjoyed all the books which were distributed through Aquila Polonica. Terry Tegnazian contributes numerous books for teachers. This is a list of all the donated books.
Two copies of each of the following (hardcover unless otherwise indicated):
303 Squadron: The Legendary Battle of Britain Fighter Squadron (paperback)
The Auschwitz Volunteer: Beyond Bravery (paperback)
The Color of Courage - A Boy at War: The World War II Diary of Julian Kulski
Echoes of Tattered Tongues: Memory Unfolded
The Ice Road: An Epic Journey from the Stalinist Labor Camps to Freedom
The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt: War Through a Woman's Eyes, 1939-1940
Fighting Auschwitz: The Resistance Movement in the Concentration Camp
Siege (DVD).
Our staff of knowable representatives truly engaged all educators. We had a professor from Brigham Young University visit to update us on his library he created after meeting us years ago, his collection includes many books on Poles and their culture.
Meaningful contacts were made because of a bronze bust of Pope John Paul II from the John Paul II Foundation. This bronze bust may be placed at the Reagan Foundation Information Center in Washington DC, receiving 80,000 visitors per year. We also entertained the possibility of placing it in the Federally funded Reagan Library in California. Contact was made with the Monticello Foundation citing the fact the Kosciuszko willed money from his estate to free the slaves. Thomas Jefferson was the will's executor. Unfortunately, this intention was not followed through, but the gesture is noteworthy for the American African museum in DC. Many tourists' groups representatives engaged with teachers to bring students to tour our nation's capital. Booklets about all Polish items were distributed to these touring groups. They especially enjoy this leaflet as many of their guests are from Chicago.
The 103rd NCSS will take place in Nashville, TN December 1-3. The teachers come to learn, gather ideas. Many cite the exhibit hall among the conference highlights - creating a prime opportunity for exhibitors make a strong impression. NCSS returns to Nashville for the first time in 30 years. The kind of exhibitors are publishing companies; software and hardware companies, classroom and curriculum resource suppliers are in attendance, as well as providers of US government programs and/or services.
Peter Obst, Debbie Majka, Tome Payne posed for photo ops with re-enactors portraying Thomas Jefferson, Betsy Ross, and Ben Franklin.
Polish Confectionaries were at the top of the giveaways. Pull-out pens with the Jamestown project were distributed and are always a popular item for teachers. They tell of our Poles in Jamestown.
Many visitors claimed their heritage and thoroughly enjoyed the tradition area of the booth. They took multiple copies of the Polish American Catholic Union leaflets filled with how to hold a traditional Polish Wigilia. Recipes, traditions, and Christmas carols were included in this great publication.
Barbara Lemecha supplied our exhibit with a Pulaski leaflet filled with major events in the career of this American Hero.
At the Annual convention in San Antonio, an effort was made to raise funds for the Polish Perspectives exhibit. Approximately $4,450 was raised for this event. Currently expenses are estimated at $5,923. Many of the excess educational materials will be used for other NCSS events.
On behalf of the NCSS, Polish Perspectives exhibit committee, we would like to thank the following affiliates, individuals and supporting organizations for their sponsorship of this worthwhile endeavor: Friends of Polish Art, Brian Malski; Tom Payne; Debbie Majka, Polish Heritage Society of Philadelphia; Celia Larkin - PAAA; Edyta Dukek, Hartford Polish Club; Renata Greenspan, Chopin Society of Chicago; Barbara Lemecha, Aneta Lennartson, Conrad Miczko, Rik Lapham, Ed Krolikowski, Jackie Kolowski, Laura Kafka.
Thank you again for your generous support and remember that all the items that are developed are available to you simply for the asking. You can borrow our exhibit panels, Notable Poles posters etc. and print your own educational materials or use some of extra bookmarks about the Jamestown Project. We welcome your inquiries as we need to promote the things of which we are so proud. Just ask!

Next year's NCSS will be in Nashville, TN.