I find this to be rather disturbing. Although my barely contained elitism will now be even further justified.
Full article link: http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/o...25history.html

The present 11th-grade U.S. history course covers the Exploration period to today. In the proposed changes, teachers will spend two or three weeks discussing the foundation of our country, with the remaining time devoted to studying events from 1876 to the present. Gone is any mention of the Louisiana Purchase or Lewis and Clark. There will be no discussion of Indian removal and the Trail of Tears.

Students probably will not be remembering the Alamo; it won't be a topic of discussion in Georgia's high schools. Daniel Webster and Henry Clay will be omitted, as well as Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and the Underground Railroad.

Search in vain for discussion of the Civil War; that topic is off limits. In a course entitled "American History," students will not study our most devastating war. There is no mention of Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee or anything else associated with those years.

Though teachers supposedly have no time to discuss topics essential to understanding our heritage, the curriculum suggests they have their students write a 1920s radio drama. Teachers are also encouraged to assign essays about dating in the Jazz Age and to show segments from "All in the Family," "Good Times" and "Chico and the Man."

I have yet to talk to any teacher who likes the new curriculum, though I am sure there are some who favor the idea of teaching less. The misguided rationale behind the hastily prepared revision is that we teach too much history in high school. The solution? Eliminate 40 percent of the current coursework.

Flaming someone even when you agree with something that thay have posted certainly is not a display of intelligence on your part but a display of remarkable pettiness and obsession.

So Georgia wants to get rid of the really important parts of American history AND evolution?


Sad..

why not...america's youth are the bottom for everything else academically...keep them dumb..it's well known that dumb people don't question the governments actions...

"Education officials note that much of the material removed from the high school courses will be taught in grades four through seven. They ignore the fact that elementary and middle school students lack the maturity necessary to grasp the importance of many of the events, people and concepts."

i agree and have already experienced this with my seven year old...they tried explaining what went on with martin luther king jr and civil rights...my daughter asked me why black and white kids aren't supposed to play together...and then why they were going to go to seperate schools...she couldn't comprehend the magnitude of what happened because all she heard were black and white...

that's not a good thing for her to be thinking in a mixed neighborhood..so i ended up spending the evening explaining to her that it was history, and not present times....

on the brightside, it will make parents take more of an interest in their children...i in no way would want my daughter to not realize what lessons could be learned from the atrocities of history...

good think i'm not a democrat than

Just out of interest, how much non-US history gets taught in American schools?

On the main point I would say that young children should be taught a basic chronology of events throughout history, and older ones should fill out the complex themes like States' rights, Civil Rights and whatever else. I think it's vital that all children have some idea of what's gone on in their country and in the world in general, or they'll never understand it.

thats interesting, Bush wants to make our education sytem look like texas who usually finishes last or 2nd to last on the national level. Its no secret that Republicans are not a fan of education.

in highschool we had a year of world history...i found it more exciting than american history...but most of what i learned was from the study of literature...it made more sense through the arts than a bunch of dates and lecture.

but it's taken so long to get history books accurate and point out the...less desirable results in the founding of america...including the slaughter of the indian nations...now they want to erase it all again...

It's very sad. Btw, when I say chronology, I don't just mean learning dates and whatever, I mean that everything of importance should be covered briefly to begin with, and that everyone should have a good idea of some stuff that's gone on outside their borders too, though that can't be as comprehensive, of course.

there's so much outside of our boarders, one would need more than twelve years to learn it all...

the truth is; organized government, like organized religion SUCKS!!!!

Totally, but you just need a broad idea. Everyone should know about the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, and nationalism. As it is I know very little history outside of Europe and the US, despite it being my degree, but at least I know about most of the big things and I think everyone would benefit hugely.

I think that someone's own country is still the most important though.