Tuesday, November 29, 2005

American History Is History?

Fox News reports tonight that public schools are no longer teaching American history from the Founding through Reconstruction. It's unclear exactly why; one administrator vaguely alluded to "other States" and how his District comports with their instructions. He mentioned "State standards" for the testing.

Smith, on the other hand, specifically mentioned "No Child Left Behind" as the culprit.

Hmmmm. They still teach that early-American stuff in the Elmbrook District, although few of the students seem to grasp the Declaration's lines firmly--you know, like This One:

"He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. " (EPA, DNR, Dept of Education, and BATFE)...

or this one (think Stadium Tax):

"For imposing taxes on us without our consent"

Some of that old stuff is very interesting. Maybe THAT'S why it is no longer in classrooms!

3 comments:

Fidei Defensor said...

The only history most High School students get is 1877-Present. You need to take Advanced classes to get any mention of the Revolution or the Civil War. You do study the early history in 7th grade but I think this hardly covers it.

James Wigderson said...

I swear sometimes you just are out there trying to bait me on the stadium tax. :)

(Ahem) last time I checked it was taxation with representation. (the sainted) State Senator George Petak cast the deciding vote. Unless there's another stadium I'm unaware of.

Dad29 said...

Actually, Jim, I had no idea that you were so attached to taxation without representation...please accept my humble apology for offending your sensibilities.

Now tell me, Jim: WHO votes to extend the term of the stadium tax? Are those people ELECTED? By whom?

But here's a peace-offering: MMSD is equally "taxation without representation."

All flowery legal BS aside, the members of the Stadium District Board are NOT elected, nor the members of the MMSD Board (nor, for that matter, the members of the WCTC or MATC Boards.)

But all of them do, in fact, have taxing authority.