The Massachusetts History and Social Sciences Frameworks mandate that students learn about the history of the Middle East. Based on our mission, the Newton Public Schools believes that our students should develop an understanding of this region’s history and people with an appreciation for the range of complex perspectives.  We believe that we should not avoid controversy, but rather work diligently to teach events and share various points of view with objectivity, respect, and intellectual rigor. At the high school level, this topic is typically covered in the 10th grade modern world history courses and in some senior electives.