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TO:Texas Education AgencySocial Studies Standards Review CommitteesFROM:Sue BlanchetteHillcrest High School, Dallas TexasVice President – National Council for the Social StudiesRE:U.S. History standardsGrade 8 and High SchoolFor the last thirty two years I have taught US history in the Dallas Independent SchoolDistrict. I was teaching before there were any clear standards and have progressedthrough Essential Elements to the TEKS. As this latest revision of the state standards has progressed I have become increasingly concerned over the political football whicheducation has become. It often appears that the intellectual development of the students inTexas schools takes a back seat to political manipulations and partisan politics. Thecurrent draft of the new standards illustrates this political struggle, but not as badly as Ihad feared. These draft standards, although they contain some items I consider unnecessary or insignificant, establish a firm foundation for the education of Texasstudents.That being said, there are some areas that I feel need clarification, addition or omission.My experience in teaching both middle school and high school US history qualifies me tooffer the following suggestions[indicated inred]:Social Studies, Grade 8
(1) History. The student understands traditional historical points of reference in U.S. history through 1877. Thestudent is expected to:(A) identify the major eras in U.S. history through 1877 including colonization, revolution, creation andratification of the Constitution, early Republic, Age of Jackson, westward expansion,antebellumreformmovements, sectionalism, Civil War and Reconstruction and describe their defining characteristics;
 
Addantebellum for clarity
(3) History. The student understands the foundations of representative government in the United States. Thestudent is expected to:
(C) describe how religion contributed to the growth of representative government in theAmerican colonies,including the growth of New England town meetings [Add this phrase for clarity]
(4) History. The student understands significant political and economic issues of the revolutionary era. Thestudent is expected to(E)arguments for and against arguments for and against ratification.This addition is unnecessary. The sameconcepts are covered much more thoroughly in 18A(26) Culture. The student understands the impact of religion on the American way of life. The student is expectedto:(B) describe religious motivation for immigration and influence on social movements, including the impact of the first and second Great Awakenings;These make an awkward combination. There are no examples for thefirst part [immigration]. They would be clearer if separated.(28) Science, technology, and society. The student understands the impact of science and technology on theeconomic development of the United States. The student is expected to: (A) explain the effects of technologicaland scientific innovations such as the steamboat, the cotton gin, and interchangeable parts,
the Bessemer steel 
 
 process
. Please reinstate the Bessemer steel process. It is essential to understanding the industrial development inthis country.
United History Studies Since Reconstruction [High School]
(b) Introduction. In this course, which is the second part of a two-year study of U.S. history that begins in Grade 8,students study the history of the United States since Reconstruction to the present.The founding documents provide aframework for our heritage. Historical content focuses on the political, economic, and social events and issues relatedto industrialization and urbanization, major wars, domestic and foreign policies of the Cold War and post-Cold War eras, and reform movements including civil rights. 
(1)
Students examine the impact of geographic factors on major events and eras and analyze their causes and effects of the Great Depression. Students examine the impact of constitutional issues on American society, evaluate the dynamicrelationship of the three branches of the federal government, and analyze efforts to expand the democratic process.Students describe the relationship between the arts and popular culture and the times during which they were created.Students analyze the impact of technological innovations on the American life. labor movement. Students use critical-thinking skills and a variety of rich primary and secondary source material to explain and apply different methods thathistorians use to understand and interpret the past, including multiple points of view and historical context.Moving the highlighted sentences into the introduction outlines what is to be taught. Section [1] then sets up theexpectations for student learning.
(1) History. The student understands traditional historical points of reference in U.S. history from 1877 to the present. The student is expected to:(D) (C) explain the significance of the following years dates: 1898, 1914-1918, 1929, 1941-1945, and 1957,1968, 1989, 2001, and 2008 .What is the significance of adding 1989? (3) History. The student understands the emergence of the United States as a world power between 1898 and1920. The student is expected to:(B) evaluate the responses to American imperialism including Guam, Hawaii, Cuba, Philippines, and PuertoRico;The concept is fine, but this is poorly written. The meaning is unclear in the actual wording.(4) History. The student understands the effects of reform and third party movements in the early twentiethcentury on American society. The student is expected to:(B) evaluate the impact of muckrakers and reform leaders such as including Upton Sinclair, Susan B. Anthony,Ida B. Wells, and W.E.B. DuBois, and
 Robert LaFollette
on American society; andLeave Robert LaFollette(7) (8) History. The student understands the impact of the U.S. civil rights movement. The student is expected to:(B) evaluate describe government efforts to achieve equality in the United States including desegregation of theArmed Forces, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965;Add Plessy v Ferguson andBrown v Board of Education.(9) History. The student understands the impact of political, economic, and social factors in U.S. role in theworld from the 1970s to 1990. The student is expected to:(B) describe Ronald Reagan’s role in restoring national confidence, such as Reaganomics and Peace withStrength.Too politically biased. There needs to be balance.(D) describe U.S. involvement in the Middle East, includingthe Camp David Accords, the Iran Contra Affair,  and the Iran Hostage Crisis. Change including tosuch as(10) History. The student understands the circumstances of the U.S. as it emerges into the 21
 
st century. The student is
 
expected to:
(A) describe U.S. involvement in world affairs including the Persian Gulf War, Balkans Crisis, 9/11, andglobal war on terror;andThe United States has not been in a declared war since World War II. It is historicallyinaccurate to use this phrase, no matter what the media or politicians may say.(B) identify significant conservative advocacy organizations and individuals, such as Newt Gingrich, PhyllisSchlafly, and the Moral Majority.This is politically biased. Consider the following instead:
 Identify significant advocacy groups such as Moral Majority, Planned Parenthood, National Rifle Association,Sierra Club
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