Oklahoma State Rep. Dan Fisher presumably has an array of tough issues to tackle for his state from unemployment to the environment to crime. However, Fisher has decided to take on the ignoble task of banning Advanced Placement history classes in the state because he objects to the inclusion of negative aspects of American history and the omission of material embracing “American exceptionalism.” As an academic, I have previously criticized politicians (here and here and here and here) intervening in our school system to impose their own values or priorities on educators. This however ranks as one of the worst such intrusions that we have seen.
Oklahoma has been one of the states rejecting the Common Core curriculum for K-12 programs. There are valid arguments for states in insisting on control of such curricula as a general matter even if one disagrees with the merits of objections to the common core. However, this is beyond the pale. AP classes are a mainstay of our educational system and allow students to get truly advanced studies in given subjects. I have argued for years that we need to ramp up such courses on civics and history. It is therefore particularly distressing to read Fisher’s bill. It is not only would deprive these students of advanced courses but it would place Oklahoma students at a serious disadvantage in college applications which put great weight on such courses.
Fisher’s primary objection is that the AP history courses, in his view, emphasize the wrongs about America. However, these courses allow students to study not just the triumphs but the mistakes of history so history does not repeat itself. We are not a great nation because we did not commit errors and even crimes in our past. We are a great nation because we overcome such history, recognized our failings, and become a better nation despite such failings. The Trail of Tears, Alien and Sedition Acts, Japanese internment camps, Red Scare and other dark chapters reveal both our succumbing to fears and our transcending them. Part of AP curricula is to train students to read history in a critical and objective way. Converting our history into some Disney tale will teach students little about our country or themselves.
The “exceptionalism” of this country is precisely that we are not perfect but strive to be better.
http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/politicizing-history/
“Fisher, who has been active in a church-and-state organization called the Black Robe Regiment, said the AP U.S. history course framework emphasizes “what is bad about America.””
From the Black Robe Regiment website:
“The Black Robe Regiment is a resource and networking entity where church leaders and laypeople can network and educate themselves as to our biblical responsibility to stand up for our Lord and Savior and to protect the freedoms and liberties granted to a moral people in the divinely inspired US Constitution. The Regiment had its historical beginnings during the Revolutionary War when Pastors from across the colonies arose and lead their congregations into the battle for freedom. Unlike today, the church during this time served as the center-point for political debate and discussion on the relevant news of the day. Today’s church leaders have all but lost that concept of leading their congregations in a Godly manner in all aspects of their worldly existence and are afraid to speak out against the progressive agenda that has dominated our political system for the past century.”
More from the Black Robe Regiment website:
“These folks who now inhabited this New Jerusalem (this New Eden that Christopher Columbus saw), were living out what they saw as a life and a country that was fashioned entirely by their Creator. The Constitution (Part 1–the Declaration of Independence, and part 2), was and is a covenant between the people of America and their Heavenly Father. It was written for a Christian people….who are fully able to internally govern themselves. Thus, the meaning of a Republic that was inspired by God’s Word and spells out the mission of God’s children and Christ’s ambassadors on Earth.”
“Well. As a Christian and a conservative, I could not possibly object more strongly to this idolatrous view of the nation and its Constitution. And I would not want my kids to learn this view of history in school, or to have AP classes, which are optional, denied to them because the College Board, which is responsible for AP classes, does not reflect this fringe theocratic view of US history. Note well that the bill passed out of the committee on a party line vote; all 11 Republicans voted for it, and all four Democrats voted against it. Good for the Democrats.”
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This from a conservative source no less.
And the recommendation to have students compare the two books was not mine, but came from AP Central at The College Board.
Pogo Hears a Who
Okay, thanks for clearing that up for me, The Johnson book however, remains an untruth
The Zinn book is a Social Studies Hand Book Work Book for the 9th and 10th grade maybe.
I don’t even see that as a history book.
Why do there have to be “Perspectives” by eliminating actual events because of Political Leanings? Politics are to be taught in Civics, not History.
Just saying
BTW I read the review you provided and then read other reviews.
http://zinnedproject.org/materials/a-peoples-history-of-the-united-states-updated-and-expanded-edition/
http://www.nytimes.com/books/98/03/01/reviews/980301.01maiert.html
(I know, you will say this is from the left.) I can’t help that because I happen to agree with it.
“Your Textbook by A People’s History of the United States with A People’s History of the United States with A History of the American People by Paul Johnson. was it? really?? wow
That is not teaching history but it is indoctrination. Sorry.”
happypappies, those are two separate books with completely opposing points of view.
You seem to be referring to them as one book.
Isaac, Yes to both; particularly Letterman, w/ that gap tooth.
Nick
Some other candidates for “What Me Worry”
W
Letterman
What sort of bush was that which was always there with Alfred E Newman?
Ha! Thanks for clearing that up Alyssa.
OMG! I just looked @ this guy, Fisher’s, photo. Underneath the photo should be the caption: “WHAT, ME WORRY?”
Thanks EricH.
More, for the challenged among us:
“AP U.S. History Course and Exam Frequently Asked Questions” (link, below)
“We are thrilled to announce significant changes to the AP U.S. History course and exam. These changes focus on maintaining AP U.S. History’s strong alignment with college credit requirements, while providing teachers with greater flexibility to focus on specific historical topics, events, and issues in depth.
These changes take effect in the 2014-15 academic year and with the May 2015 administration of the AP U.S. History Exam. College Board President and CEO David Coleman wrote a note discussing the changes to the new course. You can view that letter here.”
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/224882.html
alyssa – for those of us attuned to the school year, we need the 2015-16 AP Exam.
Pogo
The multifaceted approach to governing and administering in the US creates a luxury of seemed independence from an authoritarian central power through ‘states rights’. However, the limited choices of parties, two-one more than a dictator, confounds this and leaves the majority of the population either complacent and non participatory or running on jingoes. There is not much real understanding of the issues as there is not much information beyond finger pointing and generalities given. This seemed independence from a central power also contributes to the confusion in education, health care insurance, and other institutions better run by that one central power. For the most part the primary objection is not against the policies and programs of the central power but simply against the concept. This makes it an ideological luxury that has the obvious results, of costing too much and delivering too little.
America is a great country. However, its greatness depends on a balance of drawing from, not resting on its laurels and moving on both ideologically as well as practically. Most of the great examples of successful democracies include a revamping of the structures that guide the evolution of those democracies. America seems to stand divided between those that feel that it is sacrilege to criticize the basic tenets of what it means to be American and those that wish to evolve with the times. The anchor that this country drags is apparent in those areas that can be compared to other successful paradigms. Compare the degree of democracy in America’s bought and paid for leadership with systems that resist private ownership of politicians, a clear and focused system of education with America’s addiction to the illusion of local government, the nonsensical alignment of social situations like insurance, in situations that are interdependent, with private for profit, monopoly controlled, oligarchical institutions.
America does pay a price for an ideology in areas where it profits and if fact exceeds the norm vis a vis its peer nations. It also pays a price in many areas for the illusion of exceeding where in fact it is falling further and further behind.
Funny how one simple Google search can turn up the AP U.S. history curriculum and thereby demonstrate once again that the “conservative” internet comment section liars are lying liars, fyi. http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/ap/ap-us-history-course-and-exam-description.pdf
EricH – that is LAST year’s AP course.
No that’s ok Alyssa, I’m sure no one bothered to read it. You repeating it and adding to, it helped bring it to the forefront. Good work!
Inga (Annie),
Thanks for posting the initial update, up-thread. I should have properly credited you in my follow-up comment.
“First of all the subject is the success of the education systems: centralized as in France regarding curriculum, not administration, and fragmented in the US in almost every way.”
Fragmented in the US into regions the size of France.
“The ideological luxury of localized governance comes at a cost.”
Luxury? What luxury is that?
What costs are you talking about?
“…the historical fact that France has had a substantial population of North Africans for several generations”
I didn’t miss that at all. I stated that until recently France was largely white. And I am also aware that “Under its egalitarian ethos, it treats all citizens the same, refusing to group them into ethnic categories. It is forbidden by law to collect statistics referring to “racial or ethnic origin”.”
How that ‘might illustrate the effects of a truncated American education’ is unclear, more likely it illustrates knees jerking.
Pogo
My criticism on your response is missed, apparently. First of all the subject is the success of the education systems: centralized as in France regarding curriculum, not administration, and fragmented in the US in almost every way. The ideological luxury of localized governance comes at a cost. A basic dysfunction in areas such as education illustrates that cost.
That you correlated recent social problems in certain parts of France, which represents one problem unrelated to academics, i.e. history, math, science, etc with the issue at hand illustrates a sensitivity that I addressed in my initial comment. Perhaps you missed it.
That you miss the historical fact that France has had a substantial population of North Africans for several generations as well as a large part of its history involving racial and ethnic issues stemming from a colonial past, might illustrate the effects of a truncated American education. Here again, you help my initial point.
issac – what I know best about the French educational system is that it did a great job with sex education with American troops during both WWI and WWII. American women are thankful to the French.
This should give pause to every American.
Never mind what I said in my soliloquy, education was once upon a time very different. I tried to make that clear. I was fortunate to be born when I was and today I more convinced of it than ever. It’s not about GOP versus Democrat or Progressive, it is all about honest discourse…which appears to be vanishing as we speak. We now debate “who” is right, not “what” might be right, with an open mind. There is no other explanation for my affection for Rep John Conyers Jr., given that I am one of those “righty recruits” or whatever. However, my experience is verifiable, both by me and by his office people. I am not willing to demean him or me by doing so, we did the right thing at that time and place, and that stands on its own. So fire away….those who might.
“…the textbook wars, regardless of how they have been characterized by the right, are not motivated by educational concerns but by political ideology.”
Exactly.
But from both sides.
The US government needs to get out of Public School education for precisely this reason.
on 1, February 20, 2015 at 10:48 amInga (Annie)
http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepage1/oklahoma-lawmaker-says-he-will-pull-back-controversial-ap-history/article_3f733d69-f450-5b72-af81-696142327df3.html
Looks like the Oklahoma Legislature is rethinking their brilliant Bill.
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Alyssa, here is what I posted upstream. Another source to add to your two.
What is the constitutional authority for the federal Dept. of Ed.?
Mike Appleton,
Hear, hear.
As it was noted up-thread, it would seem that the bill needs a little revision:
http://newsok.com/oklahoma-lawmaker-reworking-advanced-placement-bill-says-he-supports-program/article/5394536
http://kgou.org/post/after-backlash-and-outcry-oklahoma-lawmaker-plans-rework-ap-us-history-bill
Maybe some, here, would like to rework/rewrite their earlier comments. 🙂
alyssa – you might ask Inga if she wants to reworks some of hers.