[H. Paul Pressler IV]

I teach history in Texas.

If I am to survive in my profession my Students must pass the TEKS (standardized test). The Concepts that the students must learn are dictated by the state and only include events after the Civil War. If my students score lower than kids at other schools I am on the hook. Thus far I have been lucky with 90-94% of my kids passing, a rate far better than the state as a whole.

If I were to spent time telling them about the Articles of Confederation I could not tell them about the events during the Progressive Era and their scores would fall.

BTW-Statewide Standardized testing was imposed by Gov. Bush in Texas in 1997 and in 2002 was implemented across the country.

Now you know who to blame.

[Bogeygolfer]

Interesting post. Could you elaborate on why they chose the civil war period and the trade offs involved. For example there are only so many history classes you can take in high school with a great deal of territory to cover. Is the idea to focus on post civil war a way to get some depth as opposed to a broad view with little detail. I'm not seeing this as a conservative v liberal issue at all despite the effort to galvanize support for this teacher from the conservative side. The use of the civil war creates a gut reaction that I don't think is true. If they touch on our earlier history in middle school I'd be more inclined to write this off. Additionally it seems college is where you pick your history classes from a broad offering to suit your tastes.

[LS]

Don't give me that. Here in OH we have standardized tests too, and I've taught at every grade level 7th through 12th, then college. Just because you HAVE to teach "x" doesn't mean you can't also teach "y." That's a cop out. And you know who to blame for that.

[buckeye27]

I had to take tests like that in Ohio in 1996. And I was REQUIRED to pass that test in order to graduate. Blaming Bush makes no sense.

[RobbyS]

As a former US history teacher, I don't see how you can just start with the Civil War without giving the constitutional/political background on the slavery issue and states' rights. I assume you do not just start with the election of Lincoln.