History

Education news, analysis, and opinion about how history is taught

Explainer

Who Decides What History We Teach? An Explainer
Education Week breaks down how politics has long been embedded in this decision, and how new laws may affect the process.
Attorney Ben Crump, left, stands with the three Leon County, Fla., high school students who are threatening to file a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration over the ban of a proposed Advanced Placement course on African America Studies in Florida high schools, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla.
Attorney Ben Crump, left, stands with the three Leon County, Fla., high school students who last week threatened to sue Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration over a ban of a proposed AP African American Studies course.
Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP
Social Studies AP African American Studies: What's Next for the Course
Florida’s ban of a pilot AP Black history course drew protests, threats of lawsuits, and a lukewarm response from the College Board.
Eesha Pendharkar, January 30, 2023
2 min read
A large crowd gathers on the fourth floor rotunda of the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., for the "Stop the Black Attack" rally, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Attorney Ben Crump threatened to file a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and his administration amid the ban of a proposed Advanced Placement course on African America Studies in Florida high schools on behalf of three Leon County, Fla., school students.
A large crowd gathers on the fourth floor rotunda of the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla., for the "Stop the Black Attack" rally, Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2023. Attorney Ben Crump threatened to file a lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, and his administration amid the ban of a proposed Advanced Placement course on African America Studies in Florida high schools on behalf of three Leon County, Fla., school students.
Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via AP
Social Studies College Board: No State Has Sway Over Final Version of AP African American Studies
College Board effectively told its members that it will not consider input from states or districts when releasing the final version of the pilot Black history class that Florida banned.
Eesha Pendharkar, January 26, 2023
3 min read
Illustration of stock photo details of train tracks of The Westerbork transit camp in the Netherlands.
Detail of train tracks at the Westerbork transit camp in the Netherlands, where Jews were deported to killing centers and concentration camps by the Germans between 1942-1945.
Vanessa Solis/EdWeek + iStock/Getty
Social Studies Opinion Teaching the Holocaust Is Daunting—But Critical
It's not enough to relate the facts; students need to consider the roles of perpetrators and bystanders.
Deborah Lauter, January 26, 2023
3 min read
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks after being sworn in to begin his second term during an inauguration ceremony outside the Old Capitol on Jan. 3, 2023, in Tallahassee, Fla. DeSantis' administration has blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African-American studies from being taught in high schools, saying the class violates state law and that it is historically inaccurate.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks after being sworn in to begin his second term on Jan. 3 in Tallahassee, Fla. DeSantis' administration has blocked a new high school Advanced Placement course on African-American studies, claiming it violates state law.
Lynne Sladky/AP
Social Studies Florida's Ban on AP African American Studies, Explained
Florida high schoolers will not be able to take an AP Black history course, after the course was banned for allegedly being inaccurate and illegal.
Eesha Pendharkar, January 24, 2023
7 min read
photo collage of American Flag, Capitol building and the United States Constitution
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Social Studies Bipartisan Civics and History Guidelines Get a Dose of Federal Funding
The money will go toward curating curriculum and providing professional development for teachers.
Sarah Schwartz, January 11, 2023
4 min read
Photo of students pointing at map.
iStock / Getty Images Plus
Social Studies Writing Social Studies Standards: A (Dramatic) Year in Review
This year proved to be politically fraught for revising state social studies standards. Take a look back at some major developments.
Ileana Najarro, December 23, 2022
4 min read
Compilation of images including an urban cityscape of Washington, DC. National Archives Building, Lincoln memorial, United States Flag.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Social Studies What's Really Going on in History Classrooms? A New Project Aims to Find Out
The American Historical Association is researching how secondary schools choose materials and instructional priorities.
Sarah Schwartz, December 15, 2022
2 min read
Red and blue venn diagram overlaying a screen photo of old books.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Social Studies Americans Do Disagree on How History Should Be Taught—But Less Than They Think
U.S. adults want teachers to focus on the good and the bad of American history. But they disagree on where to place most emphasis.
Sarah Schwartz, December 7, 2022
4 min read
Illustrations.
Mary Hassdyk for Education Week
Social Studies Social Studies Leaders Vow Not to Water Down 'Hard History'
Speakers at a major conference urged teachers to document how their teaching reflects state standards and themes of democracy and civics.
Sarah Schwartz, December 2, 2022
4 min read
111622 GLC Conference 1 BS
History teachers from across the country discuss innovative ways to teach racial history at a conference hosted earlier this month by the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Vieira
Social Studies Is a Comprehensive U.S. History Course Still Possible? Scholars Weigh In
Historians say a pluralistic view is possible, but more needs to be done to help students explore contested narratives and perspectives.
Ileana Najarro, November 16, 2022
5 min read
People speak out against anti-asian hate following the recent mass shootings in Atlanta that left eight dead, including six Asian Americans on March 17, 2021 at Diversity Plaza in Queens, New York City. Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit social organization that tracks incidents of discrimination, hate and xenophobia against Asian Americans, said it recorded 3,795 anti-Asian hate incidents between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021.
People speak out against anti-Asian hate following mass shootings in Atlanta that left eight people dead, including six Asian Americans, in March 2021.
John Nacion/NurPhoto via AP
Curriculum States Are Mandating Asian American Studies. What Should the Curriculum Look Like?
AAPI people's experiences are vast and diverse. Teaching about them accurately requires hard history, community engagement, and teacher training.
Ileana Najarro, October 28, 2022
6 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Social Studies Opinion 8 Practical Ideas for Teaching Social Studies in Culturally Responsive Ways
Getting to know your students and drawing attention to untold stories are just two of the suggestions that educators offer.
Larry Ferlazzo, October 3, 2022
11 min read
USA flag fractured in pieces over whole flag.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Standards & Accountability Political Debate Upends Texas Social Studies Standards Process
The Lone Star State is the latest to throw out a set of standards after conservative activists organized in opposition.
Ileana Najarro, September 9, 2022
7 min read
Thousands of people attend a protest for abortion access after the Supreme Court reversed the federal right to abortion decided in Roe v. Wade. The legal basis for the decision could be used in the future as precendent to overturn other rights not explicitly stated in the Constitution (e.g., same-sex marriage). With the exception of Thomas, all of the conservative justices in the majority testified under oath in their confirmation hearings that they consider abortion access 'settled law.'
Thousands of people attend a protest for abortion access after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned <i>Roe v. Wade,</i> which guaranteed the right to an abortion.
Allison Bailey/NurPhoto via AP
Curriculum How the Overturning of 'Roe v. Wade' Will Reverberate Through Classrooms
Some teachers are looking for ways to address with students the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the abortion rights precedent.
Sarah Schwartz, August 5, 2022
8 min read