NCHE Statement: Crisis in History

Crisis in History: A Statement

To become a Crisis In History Co-Signer, Click Here

NCHE Editor's Note: NCHE Trustee Theodore K. Rabb of Princeton University was asked, by a bipartisan group of U.S. Senators concerned about the state of history instruction in our schools, to draft a statement about the need for further action beyond the Teaching American History Grant Program that has been passed by Congress in recent years and the American History Achievement Act that is pending before the Senate. What follows is that statement, which he drafted together with NCHE Trustee Byron Hollinshead of American Historical Publications. In accordance with the Senators' wishes, it has been circulated to a distinguished roster of public figures, historians, leaders of historical organizations, Pulitzer Prize winners, and educators who have endorsed its goals. That list of signatories is appended to the statement, but its impact would be greatly enhanced if, as we hope, a large number of members of NCHE will be willing to add their names to the list. To indicate your support of the Statement, please click on the link above. Co-signers will be adding their names as individuals with their affiliations only as identification.

Whereas, to quote Senator Lamar Alexander, "American history is our children's worst subject";

Whereas, to quote the 1988 report of the Bradley Commission on History in the Schools:

"History belongs in the school programs of all students, regardless of the academic standing and preparation,... because it provides the only avenue we have to reach an understanding of ourselves and of our society.

Without such understanding, the two foremost aims of American education will not be achieved -- the preparation of all our people for private lives of personal integrity and fulfillment, and their preparation for public life as democratic citizens"; and

Whereas, to address this problem and this need, two major shortcomings of America's educational system--

(a) the inadequate time given to history instruction, especially in the early grades; and

(b) the inadequate training in content demanded of teachers of history;

--require urgent attention;

We, the undersigned, many of us members of the National Council for History Education (the sole nation-wide membership organization devoted to the improvement of the teaching of history in our schools), submit this statement on the CRISIS IN HISTORY in order to urge the Congress of the United States to expand on the Teaching American History initiative and Senate Bill 2721, the American History Achievement Act, by taking the following steps:

1. Given the emphasis on Reading in the No Child Left Behind legislation, we recommend the adoption of guidelines to ensure that the texts used to teach reading include a substantial proportion of biographies and other works of history;

2. Given the excellent History curricula that have been adopted in a number of States, we recommend that, as an amendment to the No Child Left Behind legislation, States and localities (the determiners of educational policy) be encouraged to adopt substantial requirements for the teaching of history in the first eight grades; and

3. Given the success of the Teaching American History initiative and Senate Bill 2721, the American History Achievement Act, in improving the preparation of teachers of history, we recommend:

(i) that both these programs be expanded;

(ii) that funds be provided for all States to offer such programs; and

(iii) that funds be provided for all Schools of Education to offer intensive preparation in the content of History as part of the education of teachers of history.

Signed by:

• Edward L. Ayers, Professor of History & Dean, Arts & Sciences, University of Virginia
  
• Bernard Bailyn, Professor Emeritus of History, Harvard University, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Former President, AHA
  
• James G. Basker, Barnard College and Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
  
• Douglas Brinkley, Director, Eisenhower Center, University of New Orleans
  
• Spencer R. Crew, Executive Director, National Underground RR Freedom Center, Former Director, National Museum of American History; Chair, NCHE Board of Trustees
  
• The Honorable Thomas F. Eagleton, Former US Senator From Missouri
  
• Sharon Flack, Coordinator of Social Studies, West Virginia Dept. of Education
  
• Eric Foner, Professor of History, Columbia University, Former President, OAH & AHA
  
• John Hope Franklin, Professor Emeritus of History, Duke University, Former President, OAH & AHA
  
• Richard Gilder, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
  
• Vartan Gregorian, President, The Carnegie Corporation of New York
  
• Victor Hanson, Senior Fellow, The Hoover Institute, Stanford University
  
• Byron Hollinshead, President & CEO, American Historical Publications, Former Chair, National History Day
  
• Akira Iriye, Professor of History, Harvard University, Former President, AHA
  
• Kenneth T. Jackson, Professor of History, Columbia University, Former OAH President & NCHE Chair
  
• Donald Kagan, Professor of History, Yale University
  
• David Kennedy, Professor of History, Stanford University, Pulitzer Prize Winner
  
• Linda Kerber, Professor of History, University of Iowa, Former President, OAH
  
• Henry Kiernan, Incoming Chair, NCHE
  
• Cynthia M. Koch, Hyde Park, NY
  
• Lewis E. Lehrman, Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
  
• William E. Leuchtenburg, Professor Emeritus of History, University of North Carolina, Former President, OAH & AHA
  
• David McCullough, West Tisbury, MA, Pulitzer Prize Winner
  
• Mary Beth Norton, Professor of History, Cornell University
  
• Georgia Nugent, President, Kenyon College
  
• Nell Irvin Painter, Professor of History, Princeton University
  
• Theodore K. Rabb, Professor of History, Princeton University, Former Chair, NCHE
  
• Diane Ravitch, Professor of Education, New York University
  
• Elaine W. Reed, Executive Director, NCHE
  
• Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., Professor of History Emeritus, CUNY, Pulitzer Prize Winner
  
• Fritz Stern, Columbia Universty
  
• Sam Wineburg, Professor of Education, Stanford University
  
• Gordon Wood, Professor of History, Brown University, Pulitzer Prize Winner.

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• AHA = American Historical Association;
  
• NCHE = National Council for History Education;
  
• OAH = Organization of American Historians.