Opinion
Curriculum Letter to the Editor

History Instruction Often Marginalized

February 25, 2013 1 min read
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To the Editor:

One of the longest-running complaints in education is that history is “boring” and is presented as a list of disconnected names, dates, and events to be memorized. However, rather than rehash a rebuttal to the unsubstantiated and anecdotal Commentary “Let’s Overhaul How We Teach History,” (Jan. 30, 2013), it should be apparent to most observers that the “boring” condemnation is no longer relevant.

The problem since so-called reformers, who often lack a sense of history themselves, fixated on standardized testing is that history has been eliminated or marginalized. Let’s overhaul what we teach.

Tedd Levy

Old Saybrook, Conn.

The writer is a retired social studies teacher.

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A version of this article appeared in the February 27, 2013 edition of Education Week as History Instruction Often Marginalized

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