I'd need to know a little more about this before I'm willing to get my knickers all in a twist. Do they cover the Founding Fathers, Revolutionary War period etc. in 8th grade and then move on to the Civil War and post-Civil War period in Freshman year in High School, European history in Sophomore year, World History in Junior year, etc? Are you saying they're not teaching the pre-Civil War period at all? I find that hard to believe. It does say the curriculum calls for a "refresher" on that period in the freshman year.
"It does say the curriculum calls for a "refresher" on that period in the freshman year."
That's for AP students. Why do AP students need a "refresher" but not regular students?