Plans to alter history lessons spark outrage in N.C.

NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina's education officials have confronted a firestorm of criticism about a proposal to teach only post-Reconstruction American history in high school, leaving lessons on the Founding Fathers and the Civil War to fifth- and seventh-grade classes.

Since Fox News aired a report about the proposed change earlier this month, the response on Web sites and blogs across the country has been swift and angry, including accusations that the state was trying to erase U.S. history and that it would lead to more dumbing down of students. They have also suggested a politically correct agenda was behind the move.

But state educators say the proposed change in curriculum standards addresses a need to teach U.S. history after 1877 more in-depth, and is not an attempt to thwart learning about the Constitution or the Emancipation Proclamation.

"There would be a deeper study of those major events," said Rebecca Garland, chief academic officer for the state Department of Public Instruction. "It was not to leave history out, but to put it in smaller time chunks to make it more manageable."

"There was never any intent to leave out any of the critical events that changed the history of this country," Garland said.

The state is in the process of updating all its curriculum standards - math and science are already done - and had just started working on history, Garland said.

"This is not what the majority of North Carolinians or Americans want from their government, whose brave ancestors fought to gain and preserve our precious freedom," Moyock Realtor Toni Tabb wrote in a letter to the Currituck County School Board. "We must stand against these attacks on liberty."

Garland said she has received at least 1,000 e-mails, and there have been many more calls and e-mails to others in the department. As it is now, U.S. History is typically taught in 11th grade and starts at 1789 - two years after the Constitution was signed, six years after the Revolutionary War ended, and 12 years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

Colonial history, including pertinent Outer Banks history about the 1584- 87 Roanoke Voyages, the Lost Colony and the Freedmen's Colony, is taught in fif th and seven th grades.

But David Oaksmith, chairman of Dare County Board of Education, said that older students are better equipped to understand and critique the contributions of the founders and Abraham Lincoln to the nation, as well as the importance of early colonial exploration.

"To leave that out at the 11th-grade level is a mistake," he said. "If you're going to teach U.S. history, start it at the beginning."

Part of the proposed change includes concentrating on U.S. history in fif th grade, and eliminating the current lessons on Mexico, Canada and Central America. And in seven th grade, the current focus on North Carolina history would broaden to U.S. history. Civics class in 10th grade would also focus on democracy and the U.S. government, including the Constitution.

State Sen. Marc Basnight, a Manteo Democrat and Senate leader, wrote in a Feb. 12 letter to the department that he is opposed to limits on the periods studied. If anything, he said, history coursework should be doubled or tripled.

"Any changes the state makes to teaching U.S. History," the senator said, "must be an enhancement to what students learn in high school and not downshifting in any way."

Department spokeswoman Linda Fuller said that an idea that would maintain the entire U.S. history curriculum but split it into two courses - supported by many educators and members of the public - will be considered in revisions of the curriculum. That also would alleviate concerns about some students who move into the state missing out on learning American history in lower grades.

The comment period on the first draft has been extended to March 2, she said, and the input will be taken into account in additional drafts. A proposal is expected to be presented to the state school board by the fall, with the final version implemented in 2013.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com