Feb
08
2010
Important pending changes to NC Education US History and other subjects Feedback deadline 3/2
The NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is currently undergoing a major project “ACRE: Accountability and Curriculum Reform Effort” which is the state’s comprehensive initiative to redefine the Standard Course of Study for K-12 students, the student testing program and the school accountability model. They are currently in Phase II of the project.
Recently, there was a story in the news that instead of teaching high school American History starting from our country’s founding, it would begin teaching from the presidency of Rutherford Hayes in 1877, i.e. after the Civil War. See article here. Under the proposed change, the ninth-graders would take a course called global studies, focusing in part on issues such as the environment. The 10th grade still would study civics and economics, but 11th-graders would take U.S. history only from 1877 onward. The proposed changes would place more emphasis on early American History at the K-8 grades. There’s a huge difference in the maturity level of children and what they can handle academically at Middle School v. High School. The core principles of early American History are critical lessons for our students to learn and frankly, I think many Americans have forgotten our roots. I had a lengthy discussion today with a staff member at the Dept of Public Instruction who was very informative and she welcomes feedback. Input to her from many teachers is they don’t have time in HS to teach history beyond WWII which is a valid concern. If anyone, especially experienced teachers can offer suggestions to help find a way to cover Early American History through present day events, please include that in your feedback, I’ve asked my children’s teachers for some suggestions. Let’s try to be constructive and offer solutions while stressing concerns about the proposed changes.
This project is not limited to History, it covers all subjects. At the link below, you can see drafts of proposed changes and complete an individual survey, the deadline for comments is now March 2nd. There will be other opportunities to provide feedback but I think the sooner we raise concerns, the better chance we have to impact the decisions being made. You can certainly call to provide feedback but for your input to be a part of public record it must be in writing. Please share this information with your friends and neighbors. Any and all interested parties can use this link to provide input including parents, educators, students, businesses, non-profits, community organizations, and the general public. Please join me and put your feedback in writing so it is a matter of public record by clicking here for more information. You can email your comments directly also by March 2, 2010
My goal is to teach my children critical thinking, to evaluate multiple positions on an issue and form their own opinions. As part of that learning, I want them to learn the basic principles that founded our country. I think this is best taught at the high school level; it’s great if Elementary / Middle School provide a basic level of learning but high school is the age where they have the maturity to really dive into the details (research papers) at a sufficient level to develop critical thinking. NC is one of the original 13 colonies and is rich in Civil War History, we owe it to our children to make sure they understand how important that is and learn the contributions NC colonists made to founding our country. We should not exclude those lessons from High School.
Opinion articles from NC Freedom members. The views expressed in Editorial articles published on NC Freedom are those of the authors alone. They may or may not represent the views or opinions of NC Freedom or those who volunteer to maintain the site.
NC is chasing federal dollars, this site has several links to research. Bill sponsors – Senators Kerry, Rockefeller and Snowe
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php?option...
I looked at the list of P21 members of which many are corporations. I see why businesses support key skills for a global economy but it does not mean we completely restructure the courses and timeline for teaching. I don't want to bash the list of companies just provide you some background on this project. I can use the existing curriculum and incorporate critical thinking. One of my son's teachers requires her students to read a current event each week and relate it to a period of history, every Friday his paragraph is due with the article attached and he has to present it to the class. This way he is taught core history, learns about current events and develops critical thinking/ presentation skills. I am lucky to have such a great teacher.
As a former teacher, I can talk with a little knowledge. Any teacher who says there is not enough time to teach the foundation of this nation has been caught in the web of John Dewey's progressive goals for public education. Any teacher who is sincere about giving his/her students a proper education cannot, in good conscience, ignore our foundation when teaching U.S. History. Also, the students need to be taught the truth about Reconstruction and how this country was transformed through that insidious plan. Do they dare?
I agree with Larry Phillips 100%. Why would the Dpi and the NC State Bd of ed want to leave out the most important parts of the History of our Great Country? Teach all the History of our country, end of story.
Wrong starting point. That teachers do not have the time is an excuse. First, NC needs as do all states throw the Federal government Dept. of Education and its funding out of the State. Institute a voucher system based on state per pupil cost rates. Establish standards of acceptable behavior at the local level and remove those from the system by granting them a voucher to be used in a private sector alturnative educational system. When public teachers no longer have to deal with these teaching distractions there will be plenty of time to teach materials with the proper emphasis and time frame. The State should not allow any form of teachers union, period. It is part of the problem also.
This has had me infuriated and breaks my heart. We are rapidly becoming a nation without a national identity or a sense of heritage. I know that the curriculum is only the proposal, but the fact that it was proposed means that this is the curriculum desired by DPI and the NC State Board of Education. I want future generations to be inspired to greatness by the character and deeds of our forefathers. I also want us to learn from our past mistakes. If people would read more history, they might realize that we have FDR II in the White House, and that is NOT a good thing.
As a former High School vocational teacher I know first ;hand the limited time teachers have to "TEACH". My recommendation if to get back to the basics of teaching and that means giving the students back the time in the classroom needed to fully cover the important aspects of our history including our history from the beginning. How can you call it US History if you don't teach the history from the beginning?
The whole issue of the rights of states vs. the rights of the federal government were the foremost political concerns of the 2nd through 16th presidencies. With the loss of the southern voice, the subsequent presidencies created the bloated federal government we now have. The knowledge gained from the debates and interpretations of the Constitution during the first half of the 19th century are the basis that we ourselves are now using in our current fight for freedom from our swelling federal government. If we eliminate this from the study of history, then all we teach the next generation is that the federal government is all that matters, and that truly does make us only one generation away from socialism.
Education about what happened during Reconstruction is already limited enough! If I were a parent I would do anything in my power to get my kids off the yellow cheese doodle bus and start home-schooling them right now. I believe this is the only way to be absolutely sure that our kids are learning what they are supposed to. I know so many right now who are home schooling their kids and I commend them for it.
If there's nothing good on TV, turn it off and the stations will lose revenue and ratings. If the public indoctrination system isn't for us, we should take our children out of it. For the folks that don't have much of a choice, this definitely needs to be fought tooth and nail. But again, the ultimate example of personal responsibility is to home school your kids.
The proper course would be to teach history from 1770 through 1870. Removing the foundational principles on which our republic is based is the path to Socialism.