In March 1987 a high school teacher in Concord, Massachusetts named Will Fitzhugh started The Concord Review during a sabbatical. This remarkable publication for high schoolers interested in publishing historical scholarship is still running strong.
“The goal was to find and acknowledge exemplary history research papers by high school students in the English-speaking world, and to distribute them in a quarterly journal to inspire more reading of history and more work on history research papers by other high school students.”
In June 1987 The Concord Review was incorporated as a nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation in Massachusetts and its nonprofit 501(c)(3) status was attained a year later.
In August 1987, a brochure calling for papers was sent to every high school in the United States and Canada and 1,500 schools overseas. By the Spring of 1988, a good number of papers had been submitted and there were subscribers in 14 states and 4 other countries.
“By Summer 2008, the journal has published 74 issues, with 813 history papers by high school students in 44 states and 34 other countries. There have been subscribers in 42 states and 32 other countries so far.”
The Ralph Waldo Emerson Prize was established. Prizes have now been awarded to 61 students published in The Concord Review. Almost all of their essays are on the website. The prizes were $3,000, and went to five authors each year.
“In 1998, we started the National Writing Board, to assess and report on high school history papers. We have now provided an independent evaluation of papers from 31 states and sent our three-page reports, at the request of the authors, to Deans of Admission at 79 colleges. Thirty-nine colleges now endorse this assessment service, including Harvard, Michigan, Princeton, Stanford, Virginia, and Yale.”
In 2002, TCR Institute was created to study academic work by high school students. The institute’s first study of the state of the term paper in U.S. high schools is on its web site.
“With all of these efforts we have sought to promote the reading of nonfiction books and the writing of academic expository research papers by secondary students. We believe that students who have read some nonfiction books and written a serious history research paper or two will be much better prepared for the academic demands of college life.”
David McCullough wrote: “I very much like and support what you’re doing with The Concord Review. It’s original, important, and greatly needed, now more than ever, with the problem of historic illiteracy growing steadily worse among the high school generation nearly everywhere in the country.”
The late Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Historian, said: “The Concord Review offers young people a unique incentive to think and write carefully and well…The Concord Review inspires and honors historical literacy. It should be in every high school in the land.”
Albert Shanker, late president of the AFT wrote: “The Review also has a vital message for teachers. American education suffers from an impoverishment of standards at all levels. We see that when we look at what is expected of students in other industrialized nations and at what they achieve. Could American students achieve at that level? Of course, but our teachers often have a hard time knowing exactly what they can expect of their students or even what a first-rate essay looks like. The Concord Review sets a high but realistic standard; and it could be invaluable for teachers trying to recalibrate their own standards of excellence.
“Let me say that I think The Concord Review could be especially useful to poor and disadvantaged children and their teachers. Last year, I was privileged to hear John Jacob, the president of the National Urban League, talk about how poor black children, in particular, need to be held up to higher academic standards. Jacob believes that, instead of lowering our sights, we must raise them and demand high academic performance.”
Douglas B. Reeves, Ph.D., Chairman, The Leadership and Learning Center, wrote: “The quality of the Emerson Prize essays and, for that matter, every essay published in The Concord Review, represents the best high school writing in the World. We should preserve that very high standard...my only suggestion is to broaden the reach and readership of The Review. Will needs and deserves major, consistent, and well-publicized funding.”
The History Education Council of Hawaii strongly encourages high school educators to inspire and encourage their students to submit papers for consideration and publishing in future editions. Click here for more information. Go to this link to see a listing of the current edition of The Concord Review, as well as how to subscribe.
For more information:
730 Boston Post Road, Suite 24
Sudbury, Massachusetts 01776 USA
1-800-331-5007 or (978) 443-0022
E-mail: fitzhugh@tcr.org
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