The Special High School Affiliate Relationship with ASA

In August 2002, the American Sociological Association (ASA) Council approved with enthusiasm an affiliate relationship between high school teachers (and social studies departments) and the ASA. While high school teachers are welcome as full members of ASA, given their many subject area interests and organizations, it may be unrealistic to join many disciplinary associations. The affiliate relationship provides high school teachers (and their department) with an opportunity to access key publications at member-prices, and to be informed of the special professional opportunities to advance their sociological education.

Benefits of Membership

Publications

High school departments subscribing to the High School Affiliate Program receive a subscription to Contexts, and the opportunity to order other ASA journals, such as Teaching Sociology, and publications at member prices.

Contexts is a magazine about society and social behavior. Contexts is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November. Directed to anyone interested in the latest sociological ideas and research, it seeks to apply new knowledge, stimulate fresh thinking, and disseminate important information produced by the discipline. Articles synthesize key findings, weave together diverse strands of work, draw out implications for policy, and debate issues of controversy. The hallmarks of Contexts are accessibility, broad appeal, and timeliness. By design, it is not a technical journal, but a magazine for sociologists, social and behavioral scientists, and others who wish to be current about important developments in social research, social science knowledge, emerging trends, and their relevance. It's a perfect introduction to the field for high school students.

Special Services

Annual Meeting Admission and Workshops

The ASA Annual Meeting, held every year in August, provides an opportunity for its 5,000 participants to share knowledge and new directions in sociological research and practice. It includes panels, plenary and thematic sessions, academic and educational workshops, mini-courses and seminars, committee meetings, exhibits, and many other important activities.

There are also several workshops of particular interest to high school sociology teachers, and special discounts on registration fees. ASA has a new emphasis on continuing education and training for all sociologists. We plan to offer a day-long workshop before or after each Annual Meeting on "Teaching Sociology in the High School." If or when there is an AP Course in Sociology, ASA will continue to offer training workshops for and with teachers. Continuing education credits are available for many of the workshops and courses.

Discounts on ASA Publications

High School Affiliates pay the member price when ordering publications from the ASA Teaching Resources Center. Of particular interest to high school teachers are the following works: Teaching Sociology in High School: A Guide for Workshop Organizers; Introductory Sociology Resource Manual; Visual Sociology: Teaching with Film/Video, Photography, and Visual Media; Doing Survey Research in the Introductory Social Science Course; Innovative Techniques for Teaching Sociological Concepts; and the ASA Style Guide. ASA offers many brochures on majoring in sociology and careers in sociology.

ASA welcomes the talents of current high school teachers as workshop leaders, editors and contributors to written materials, and colleagues in the development of high school sociology curricula. Contact the APAP Program to become involved.

The Task Force on the AP Course in Sociology

As a first step toward closer collaboration with high school teachers, ASA has formed a Task Force on the Advanced Placement (AP) Course in Sociology. This group has crafted guidelines for a basic high school course and has assembled teaching resources as well. In the next few years, the Task Force will engage teachers to field test the course and materials and to share resources already in use. Teachers are encouraged to become involved in the Task Force's work.

Members of the ASA Task Force on the AP Course in Sociology

Caroline Hodges Persell, New York University (Chair)
Anne Boyle Cross, University of Wisconsin-Stout
Paul DiMaggio, Princeton University
Robert Greene, Greenfield High School (WI)
Mary Holley, Montclair State University
Jay Howard, Indiana University-Purdue University-Columbus
Carla Howery, American Sociological Association
David Karen, Bryn Mawr College
Barbara Schneider, University of Chicago
Jerry Shepperd, Austin Community College
Teresa Sullivan, University of Texas-Austin
Scott Zanni, Magruder High School (MD)

Ordering Information

Fee for High School Social Studies Departments: $45.00

Membership Term: August 1st – July 31st

Application form (PDF file to be mailed or faxed in)

For more information, contact Academic and Professional Affairs at (202) 383-9005 ext. 318, or via e-mail at apap@asanet.org.