All we are supposed to "teach" are some standardized writing skills that will reflect well when the kids take their Regents Exams. In the eighth grade I am supposed to spend my time giving writing projects, having the students spend class time rewriting these two or three times so that they may decorate my bulletin boards suitably linked to each writing standard which has been addressed.Content??? It doesn't exist, at least according to my superiors. Woe unto the teacher if his room does not meet standards, even if his students could argue the cases for Lincoln and Davis, even if they could identify the differences and similarities between open shores immigration of the 19th Century and today, and be able to conclude if a return to restrictions is needed or not. These skills and knowledge go unrewarded in NYC both for the students and the teacher.
Its pretty true here in Ca too. As long as you have lots of evidence of group activity, you classroom looks ok. When I taught, (20 years ago) I was pretty much left alone by the official powers, but I taught math, not much that could be evaluated historically. I did teach a unit on the historical development of geometry, going back to Euclid. I wonder if I would get in trouble for that today?