Cutting out students' time with Arkansas history?
Say it ain't so. It has been reported this week that a newly revised social studies curriculum for Arkansas's school children beginning this fall combines social studies and Arkansas history into one subject for kindergartners through sixth graders. The curriculum also requires teaching world history in seventh and eighth grade, when Arkansas history has historically been taught.
I think most Arkansas students will tell you that of all the K-12 curriculum, they enjoy Arkansas history more than many of the other geography/social studies/civics/history courses offered. It's local, it's relevant, and it is useful for students to know and to retain.
I'm previously on record saying (and voting) that the legislature shouldn't micromanage classroom instruction, but I have to speak out on this one as a citizen. I think it's a blow to our history and culture as a state to see this happen.
It's important enough across the state line that two courses are devoted to Texas history. According to the Texas Administrative Code, the focus of the 4th grade course is the history of Texas from the early beginnings to the present within the context of influences of the Western Hemisphere. In Grade 7, students study the history of Texas from early times to the present. Content is presented with more depth and breadth than in Grade 4. Students examine the full scope of Texas history, including the cultures of Native Americans living in Texas prior to European exploration and the eras of mission-building, colonization, revolution, republic, and statehood. Students identify regions of Texas and the distribution of population within and among the regions and explain the factors that caused Texas to change from an agrarian to an urban society.
Texas students learn the structure and functions of municipal, county, and state governments, explain the influence of the U.S. Constitution on the Texas Constitution, and examine the rights and responsibilities of Texas citizens. That's pretty impressive (and necessary, if part of our obligation is to prepare students to function as productive citizens). We have an impressive history. As Tom Dillard has said, "for people in Arkansas to appreciate their heritage, they have to know it."
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Speaking of Arkansas history, one of my morning reads is the "Other Days" section of the Demozette, which usually provides a pretty good Arkansas history lesson in itself. Here's yesterday's:
The Piggott Times offers a similar section in its newspaper. It reminds us that just 20 years ago, the statutory requirement went into effect for Arkansas motorists to carry liability insurance. It should be noted that the Louisiana legislature this year (after a pretty heated debate) increased the mandatory limits for motorists in that state from 10/20 to 25/50. Governor Blanco still has not signed the legislation and is considering a veto.
I think most Arkansas students will tell you that of all the K-12 curriculum, they enjoy Arkansas history more than many of the other geography/social studies/civics/history courses offered. It's local, it's relevant, and it is useful for students to know and to retain.
I'm previously on record saying (and voting) that the legislature shouldn't micromanage classroom instruction, but I have to speak out on this one as a citizen. I think it's a blow to our history and culture as a state to see this happen.
It's important enough across the state line that two courses are devoted to Texas history. According to the Texas Administrative Code, the focus of the 4th grade course is the history of Texas from the early beginnings to the present within the context of influences of the Western Hemisphere. In Grade 7, students study the history of Texas from early times to the present. Content is presented with more depth and breadth than in Grade 4. Students examine the full scope of Texas history, including the cultures of Native Americans living in Texas prior to European exploration and the eras of mission-building, colonization, revolution, republic, and statehood. Students identify regions of Texas and the distribution of population within and among the regions and explain the factors that caused Texas to change from an agrarian to an urban society.
Texas students learn the structure and functions of municipal, county, and state governments, explain the influence of the U.S. Constitution on the Texas Constitution, and examine the rights and responsibilities of Texas citizens. That's pretty impressive (and necessary, if part of our obligation is to prepare students to function as productive citizens). We have an impressive history. As Tom Dillard has said, "for people in Arkansas to appreciate their heritage, they have to know it."
***
Speaking of Arkansas history, one of my morning reads is the "Other Days" section of the Demozette, which usually provides a pretty good Arkansas history lesson in itself. Here's yesterday's:
100 years ago July 5, 1907 CAMDEN - United States Senator Jefferson Davis denounced and abused his political enemies at a barbecue here today. It exhausted even the Senator’s prolific vocabulary of abuse and vituperation to adequately express his feelings toward the last Arkansas legislature.Gotta love it.
The Piggott Times offers a similar section in its newspaper. It reminds us that just 20 years ago, the statutory requirement went into effect for Arkansas motorists to carry liability insurance. It should be noted that the Louisiana legislature this year (after a pretty heated debate) increased the mandatory limits for motorists in that state from 10/20 to 25/50. Governor Blanco still has not signed the legislation and is considering a veto.
posted by Steve Harrelson @ 7/06/2007 07:24:00 AM | Permalink |
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