Conservative Group Offers Alternative History Guidelines
A Washington-based conservative advocacy group, claiming the national history standards issued last fall omit key portions of the nation’s past, has published its own version of what students should know about U.S. history.
The 64-page booklet from the Family Research Council offers itself as an alternative to the embattled voluntary national standards, which were developed by hundreds of teachers and historians.
Written by a history teacher in Virginia, “Let Freedom Ring: A Basic Outline of American History” is based on the 1963 New York State regents’ curriculum for American history. The outline is presented chiefly in chronological order--from the discovery of the Americas to 1980.
The group’s publication takes a traditional approach to the curriculum, emphasizing the political, military, and institutional aspects of U.S. history. Unlike the national standards, which weave the nation’s social and cultural history throughout, the research council’s booklet tends to treat such topics in discrete fashion.
Free copies are available by calling (800) 225-4008.
