History is not targeted by any high-stakes tests. Does that mean that history doesn't count? Should history class merely function as an outpost to teach language arts and math and science? These are things I cover incidentally in my classes, but by no means do I believe that my sole purpose is to help kids pass federally mandated tests outside my subject area, much less IN my subject area, were they to even exist. That kind of education is a poor excuse for an education.Yes, it is. However, I *thought* that I had heard that History will eventually be included in NCLB testing, though it appears that different states require (such as North Carolina) standardized History testing as part of their Adequate Yearly Progress evaluation of High School students. (Thanks to Ms. Cornelius for pointing out the difference between state and NCLB!) Instead, it looks like the federal government continues to rely on the NAEP test for History.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
History Carnival 28
Patahistory is hosting History Carnival 28 and my post "A Positive Historical Baseline" was both selected (thanks to Nathanael at Rhine River) and excerpted. It is grouped with a post by Ms. Cornelius: What does it mean if NCLB wants to leave history behind? So, while I'm worrying about the "type" of history being taught, Ms. Cornelius is worrying if history will even be taught! An excerpt:
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2 comments:
Hi there!
The links are to North Carolina schools-- I have heard nothing about Federal requirements, which, as I said, I'm ambivalent about anyway.
Unfortunately, the middle school teachers have been told that history education does not count in actual words as well as in deeds-- there are 2 middle school teachers at my old school actually certified in social studies.
Thanks for making that more clear as I should have done. I'll correct it.
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