Whose History?

"Whose History?" by Linda Symcox is a historical account of creating and implementing national standards in American Classrooms. Before I even began reading this narrative, I had not been able to fully establish my own idea or opinion as it relates to national standards. Should we have national standards? If so, who should create them and how should they be created? As I sat down to read this book, I had hoped that some of my questions would be answered, or at least I could get somewhat of a grip on my own attitudes towards this topic. I was incorrect.

What struck me as most fascinating about this entire hotly debated, political issue, was the latent hypocrisy beneath the entire standards movement. Politics aside, there is overwhelming support for the creation or the  necessity for national standards regardless of what form this comes in. If this were not true, so many efforts throughout the years would not have been funded and attempted at creating a national standard. The consensus on the need for standards is inevitably trumped by individual's political opinions most starkly apparent with Lynne Cheney and her sudden transformation against the 1994 Standards Project. It just seems odd to me that people could want something so badly and in the end fall victim to political pollution, paralyzing something that is so fundamental to what everyone agrees is necessary in education.

When I was thinking specifically about National History Standards I could not help but find myself laughing while reading this account. The more recent conservatives were concerned about downplaying the success of the white majority male in the account of our incredible American Democracy, in attempt to paint a picture of one similar journey through American History. Even within the current democratic debate surrounding the standards, and even deeper within their own political camp, there is not one American view or unified voice, so how on earth could this be true of our entire American History?!

I set out to figure out this whole standards thing, shockingly, I do not have an answer! I suppose that if I did then I would be the new Crabtree or Nash solving our public education woes with the wave of my elm, Phoenix feather core, wand! Unfortunately for all of us, I am not a witch and magic is not going to cure the current ills of the National Standards debate. Our only hope then, remains in the democratic process we in history hold so dear to our hearts.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog! Just a little information about me to begin, I am a student at GWU getting my Masters in Education to become a 6-12 Social Studies teacher. The posts and comments made by me are my opinion and my own representations and do not represent the view of the University or the program. Feel free to agree or strongly disagree, I look forward to your thoughtful comments!