In 1989 historian Francis Fukuyama published his contraversial and influential article entitled "The End of History?" Fukuyama's argument was a theoretical one, but in Arkansas we are facing a much more concrete "end of history"...or at least Arkansas history.
Last year, a 34-member education committee recommended some substantial changes in the history and social studies curriculum here in Arkansas as a part of a overall curriculum review. The committee, which stated that it wanted to strengthen the teaching of Arkansas history, felt that it was necessary to move it into the social studies curriculum because it felt that as a separate subject Arkansas history often was not being taught in elementary school.
Benton County students taking part in the Van Winkle's Mill history program sponsored by the Rogers Historical Musuem (helped out by Arkansas State Parks and the Arkansas Archeological Survey).
Gov. Mike Beebe has said he supports the department and the new curriculum, but members of the Arkansas History Education Coalition, including former U.S. Sen. David Pryor, met with Commissioner Ken James yesterday to discuss the group's opposition.
The coalition and many other historians are upset with what they expect will be a "watering down" (the words used in most press coverage) of the teaching of Arkansas history in public schools. They are seeking a one-year moratorium on new teaching guidelines that are to go into effect this fall.
Additionally, the coalition believes that the new curriculum may be a violation of Act 786 of 1997 (which required Arkansas history be taught as a subject). Interestingly, Arkansas history is not the only subject being "spread about"...geography is also being dismantled as a subject in order to place it throughout the social science curriculum.I do not think that the policy is necessarily bad in theory and I might not be against the "decompartmentalization" of our school curriculum if I had faith in the Arkansas educational system as a whole....but remember, Arkansas's education system has been ruled "unconstitutional" by our state Supreme Court which agreed that the State of Arkansas "is not providing a general, suitable, and efficient system of public education that is good enough and fair enough for our children."
Of course, I can't help but think that if we get rid of enough of the subjects at which we are not doing well, we'll have our education system looking great in no time (he siad sarcastically).
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Related news articles:
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/07/15/news/071507ararkhist.txt
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/07/14/News/342753.html
http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2007/07/20/News/342805.html
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Labels: arkansas, education, history
posted by Jamie Brandon @ 7/20/2007 07:08:00 PM
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