In this plan for reform, I emphasize a coherent teaching of the distinct History of the West to replace the current survey of the Social Studies.
I propose the following course scope & sequence for Idaho::
9th Grade: Ancient & Medieval History (the West before AD 1492)
10th Grade: Modern European History (the West after Columbus)
11th Grade: U. S. History I (Pre-Columbian era to AD 1898)
12th Grade: U. S. History II (Spanish-American War through Now)
Any Current Civics, Geography, U. S. Government & Politics, and Economics requirements would be taught within the four History Courses.
Roughly fifty years ago, Collegiate Pedagogues successfully advocated shifting away from the systematic teaching of our culture’s history in detail. Instead, they replaced this with instruction in a survey of theoretical “Social Sciences”; most of which were based upon certain Left-wing assumptions (utopianism, materialism, communitarianism, statism,…).
Unless the goal of this 1970-era reform was to shatter a shared sense of American identity, these changes have had disastrous consequences. It is optional in adult life for a Citizen to have a working understanding of theoretical Social Sciences. It is essential for an adult Citizen to have a living memory of and working understanding of our shared American experiences which shape our very identity.
If we wish to genuinely acculturate the coming generation in those understandings necessary for functional active citizenship, we must reverse that destructive reform. The Social Studies must be replaced in our High School curricula with in-depth and comprehensive History courses teaching two years of Western Civilization and two years of United States History.
Restore the West 