TEACHERS OF PSYCHOLOGY IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (TOPSS)
1998 ANNUAL REPORT
Nineteen ninety-eight was another year of significant accomplishments and the beginning of several new initiatives for TOPSS.
The National Standards for the Teaching of Psychology were approved by the APA Board of Directors. This is a significant accomplishment for TOPSS in the ongoing effort to promote excellence in the teaching of high school psychology. The implications for the survival of high school psychology programs in many states are large.
The TOPSS curriculum project continues to grow. Several new units lesson plans were in production: Disorders and Treatment, Diversity, Motivation and Emotion, Stress Coping and Health and Social Psychology, and States of Consciousness. The plan is to distribute most of these units within the next year.
Student recognition programs continued to expand. The TOPSS/APF Presidential Scholars Competition resulted in honoring three young women at the APA Convention in San Francisco, California. The TOPSS Board is dedicated to continuing this competition as the APF/TOPSS Scholar Competition. The Board of Educational Affairs and the Board of Scientific Affairs donated $750 each on an annual basis for a TOPSS scholarship for this competition. The APF matched these funds with a donation of $1,500. TOPSS was thrilled to receive $50,000 from the APF Rosencranz fund to set up an endowment to fund a scholarship award for this competition. There will be three $1,000 scholarships awarded each year. Additionally, TOPSS continued to recognize students through the APF/TOPSS “Excellence in High School Research” Awards. TOPSS also continued the Student Scholastic Achievement Award Certificate Program.
Once again TOPSS was awarded programming time at APA’S Annual Convention. Some programming was done in conjunction with Division 2. The 1998 speakers included such notables as Eurnestine Brown, John Harvey, Michael Posner, Richard Lazarus, Paul Ekman and Gerry Koocher. TOPSS Board members also presented teaching ideas and strategies at the “What Works” session at the Convention.
The TOPSS Website has been brought under the auspices of the APA and Education Directorate’s homepages. The website has been revised and updated with several new and exciting features. Work on expanding the TOPSS website will be a continuing project.
The State Coordinator Program continues to grow. A Handbook for State Coordinators was developed and distributed. The handbook includes sample letters, projects and advice. TOPSS now has 2,400 members.
Furthering the education of teachers in the science of psychology continues to be a priority. Three workshops were held in 1998. The first was in San Francisco, California in conjunction with the APA Annual Convention; the second was held in Providence, Rhode Island in conjunction with the New England Psychological Association’s meeting; and a third was held in Montgomery County Maryland.
The “Mass Mailings” project was continued. TOPSS members received a tremendous amount of ideas, activities, products, articles and other useful materials for the high school psychology teacher.
College faculty advisors for the past year were Drs. James Freeman and Charles Brewer. TOPSS thanks these individuals for their expert assistance they provided to the Executive Board. TOPSS also gratefully acknowledges the leadership of departing Board advisor Dr. James Freeman and his insightful contributions to the direction and implementation of TOPSS initiatives.
Submitted by Carol J. Dean, Chair, TOPSS