State goes with federal education standards

By William R. Toler

Parents won’t have to worry about the state education curriculum starting U.S. History in 1877. Instead, there is a new concern.

Late last month, the Carolina Journal reported that the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is dropping its own curriculum standards in favor of those developed by the Federal Government.

According to the conservative publication, the “Common Core Standards” will “guide the development of everything from teachers’ lesson plans to final exams” when set into motion. The Journal added that the U.S. Department of Education is giving extra points in the Race to the Top initiative to states adopting the federal standards.

While having a uniform curriculum throughout the country does seem ideal, and could benefit students who transfer from one state to another, this move does have its drawbacks.

Abbreviated history

By William R. Toler

North Carolina high schoolers could get relieved of the first 200 years of American history if the Department of Public Instruction has its way.

According to FOX News, DPI wants to start the U.S. History curriculum with the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes…in 1876. With the proposed curriculum, student’s wouldn’t learn the aspects of the pre-Columbian era through the Civil War, which could be considered the most important history of the nation.

But Rebecca Garland, DPI’s chief academic officer, told FOX News the goal isn’t to move away from American history. “What we are trying to do is figure out a way to teach it where students are connected to it, where they see the big idea, where they are able to make connections and draw relationships between parts of our history and the present day.”