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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services, March 29 Ashland woman takes cancer threat head-on (No heading) Urban pot grows could be trimmed Conservancy hopes to turn 352-acre ranch along Rogue River into a preserve Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services, March 29 Cottage Grove man dies in Rogue River boating accident Emergency services, March 28 State police: Grants Pass shooter tried to run victim off the road Poodle killed with pellet gun in west Medford Politics and Elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for one year Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Education Which comes first: The rocket or the egg? Medford School District one of most accident-prone in state Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Oregon legislators may end fifth-year high school programs Phoenix High officer looks back on varied career Environment Rogue Valley lions on their way to California Corps hopes to clear Lost Creek Lake of debris Beetles taking toll on Ashland pines Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval State News 5 things to know about Oregon's gun-control bill Feds celebrate sage grouse deal with Oregon ranchers Timber payments extension passes U.S. House $15 minimum wage bill dead in Oregon Senate Dave Frohnmayer remembered at Eugene memorial Nation - World Obituaries Claudine Barbara Pollard Alexander Edwards Ray E. Kniffen, Sr. Lois Emmerette (Wright) Huntley James "Jim" Peter Duman Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Blazers beat Nuggets, move closer to division title Raiders roll EOU in 4-0, 6-1 triumphs Kentucky holds off Irish South secures another road sweep Tornado on top Varsity 541 College Sports Raiders roll EOU in 4-0, 6-1 triumphs Kentucky holds off Irish Stewart, UConn crush Texas Wisconsin downs Arizona, heads to Final Four Frosh-led Duke ousts Utah to make Elite Eight Pro Sports Blazers beat Nuggets, move closer to division title Walker gains lead over Spieth in Texas Aldridge propels Blazers past Suns Warriors match record with 60th victory Birdie run gives Walker lead in Texas Open Community Sports Business Latest Stories Mandatory paid sick leave gets mixed reviews Blog: How to Practice Patience Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Medford shoppers wonder about impacts of Costco on Trader Joe's parking lot Blog: State senate president says there will be no minimum wage increase during 2015 session Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business, March 26, 2015 People in Business: Feb. 28 Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Agriculture Broth maker leaves San Diego for Medford Harry & David announces new president Opinion Latest Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity Letters to the Editor, March 29 George Will: Remembrance of Clintons past Dana Milbank: The end of the White House's insularity? Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Editorials Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity Other Views: Gun background check bill won't make us safer Our View: Some police videos should be released Our View: Public records rules should apply to lawmakers, too Our View: Oregon schools will have to make do with a little more money Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 29 Letters to the Editor, March 28 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 26 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Columns George Will: Remembrance of Clintons past Dana Milbank: The end of the White House's insularity? Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Charles Krauthammer: The GOP racing form, first edition Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles Guest Opinion: Guest Opinion: Raise your voice against child abuse Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Lifestyle Latest stories Prepare the beds for summer vegetables Pet of the Week: Spot Aging is less pleasant if you succumb to the number Bemoaning the lack of local discount days Beyond the Beach Food Community blog: Try slightly smoky baked beans instead of refried App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Frugal foodie Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Almond cookies pass the test Home and Garden Prepare the beds for summer vegetables Hot tub: The perfect centerpiece for outdoor living Garden Cameos: Welcome spring to the garden Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring’s arrival Home Help: How green is your house? Health Community blog: How to Get Rid of a Tension Headache St. Mary's student helps others with diabetes Community blog: Sleep Tight: Making Your Bed, Body and Mind Ready for Rest Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, March 27 Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here's Tempo's top five picks for live entertainment this week The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Live Music in Local Clubs Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Theater ‘A Dream of Red Pavilions’ at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Review: Education and its discontents Next Stage Repertory presents 'Educating Rita' at the Craterian Theater Eugene O'Neill's 'Long Day's Journey into Night' opens at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Camelot's 'Sunset Boulevard' ambitious, not as dark Music Futurebirds play the Brickroom in Ashland The 2015 Rising Stars music competition ends with its final round on the Britt stage in Jacksonville Live Music in Local Clubs Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Farr Side: Lines are blurred with theft of Marvin Gaye’s classic groove Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining (No heading) Basque-inspired cuisine at Eleven in Ashland Parsing the meaning behind wine medals and scores Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 22 Jasmine Thai Cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity ... Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections ... Conservancy hopes to turn 352-acre ranch along Rogue River into a preserve ... Our View: Phoenix lion sanctuary was a missed opportunity ... Guest Opinion: How to end the influence of money in elections ... Conservancy hopes to turn 352-acre ranch along Rogue River into a preserve ... GUEST OPINION Guest Opinion: How schools teach U.S. history raises hackles By Betty R. Kazmin MailTribune.com By Betty R. Kazmin Posted Mar. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Betty R. Kazmin Posted Mar. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Bravo for placing AP U.S. History on your front page! AP refers to advanced placement college-level courses taught in high schools. Students who qualify for the classes take national exams at the end of the school year, and receive college credit it they score a 3,  4 or 5. AP classes are offered in a variety of subjects including European history, U.S. history, literature, chemistry, biology, calculus and many others. Not all schools offer all these courses. The College Board administers the program nationwide. While the Medford School Board questions a new textbook for its AP U.S. History course, the larger issue is the new framework for the course itself. "Rewrite of Framework For AP U.S. History Raises More Hackles" is the headline on a major story in Education Week. The lead paragraph reads: "Concerns about an overhaul to the Advanced Placement U.S. History curriculum framework have been spreading through a growing number of states over the last few months, with critics saying it emphasizes negative aspects of the nations's history and downplays 'American exceptionalism.' " Since the course is taught in classrooms across the country, and since students must all take the same test, the framework is designed to "outline the concepts and skills students need for a college-level history course," reports Education Week. For countless students, this is the only college course on U.S. History they will take. It is important that there be some standardization of content across America's classrooms. The Medford School Board is concerned with phrases inserted into sections of the U.S. Constitution that purport to clarify what the actual words mean. I agree that students should study the words of the Constitution as written, without editorializing by textbook publishers. Then teachers and students can discuss the constitutional language and how it may have evolved. The course framework is a far greater issue. Telling the story of America's history is a challenge for both textbook authors and classroom teachers. Beginning with the early settlers' treatment of the Indians, to Thomas Jefferson's ringing words declaring "all men are created equal," to President George Washington's preference for "no entangling alliances," the story grows more complex with every decade. Today's headlines — comparing the 50th anniversary of the march in Selma, Ala., to the rioting in Ferguson, Mo., and the strong disagreements between President Obama and Congress over a nuclear agreement with Iran and our relationship with Israel — these current events reveal the complexities of America's story. The historians and teachers who wrote the new framework defended their work in a letter saying the previous framework provided "too few opportunities to understand the 'why' of U.S. history and or to make the deeper meanings come alive to students," says Education Week. Complaints about the new framework have come from school board members and legislators in various states. One wants content that "promotes patriotism and downplays civil disobedience." Another feels the framework paints free enterprise in a negative light, and "views America through the lense of race, class and gender identity. It's focusing more on what divides us than what unites us," a legislator told Education Week. Another said the new AP framework "focuses on what is bad about America." History professor emeritus Lapsansky-Werner, who helped write the new framework, responded to claims that it is overly negative. "The new framework is designed to help all of the people who live in the country to be excited about the things we as a nation have done well, and to ... dream about the things we could do better. To do that, we have to really examine with some care the places where we've made mistakes." A commendable goal indeed. Implementing it with large high school classes is a challenge, regardless of the framework or textbook used. And doing it all in one school year is mind-boggling. Especially if the goal is "to really examine... (it ;.. with some care." I studied U.S. History in high school in the late 1950s and we reached the end of World War II. My daughters took AP U.S. History in the mid 1980s and reached the civil rights movement of the '60s. Our courses were all one year long. How can today's U.S. history courses possibly cover all that history plus everything that has occurred in the last half century? Is it time to add a third semester to more effectively study America's story? And what vision of America — past and present — should we teach to our children ? Betty R. Kazmin of Medford taught in Los Angeles public and private secondary schools and served on the school board in Willard, Ohio. By Betty R. Kazmin MailTribune.com By Betty R. Kazmin Posted Mar. 27, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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