The world history standards, more than the U.S. ones, take the de-emphasis of Western political traditions over the brink of absurdity. According to these packed pages, students will learn details about civilizations and sub-populations all over the planet in every era, and explain what it all means. In this humming global beehive of cultures, we only catch glimpses of our own and no society has more or less importance or claim on moral value than any other. You can't teach schoolchildren that way. So downplaying our own political and cultural traditions, as these standards do, makes them almost useless for elementary and secondary educators.
Teachers are on democracy's front lines.
At this turn of the new year, let's hope they get what they need to help students understand the ideas that Americans hold in common, how those ideas grew, and why what Americans hold in common is precious. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001. All rights reserved.