Asserts that the study of history involves more than the passive absorption facts, dates, names, and places. Maintains that real historical understanding requires students to engage in historical thinking, to raise questions, and to marshal evidence. Describes skills for five types of historical thinking. (CFR)

This publication provides a list of history standards and benchmarks embodying content that is highly valued nationally and in the Central Region states (Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming). It is intended to assist curriculum directors, social studies coordinators, and others who seek to identify…

One of the first women in the field of teacher education, Emma Hart Willard trained many young women at the Troy Female Seminary. Willard held an integrated view of social science education. Her interests and views in geography, history, and citizenship education were more typical of the 1960's than the early 1800's, the period of her major work.…

Reviews the history of ideas about the proper role of history in high school curricula. Asserts that the acceptance of social efficiency as the touchstone of curricula, as well as history's absorption into social studies, proved disastrous. Calls for reassessment of the inherent values of studying history. (KH)

The annual meeting of the American Historical Association is reported, including the "history in crisis" vs "history being revitalized" debate. In the 1960s, a younger generation of scholars pioneered the "new social history"; in the 1980s, political divisions have contributed to the debate. (MLW)

Focuses on one person's perspective toward responsibilities of and toward the history of the museum profession. A plea is put forth for developing a feasible documentation system and national network of exhibit reviews. (Author/SA)

Discusses communication in history, the theme for National History Day in 1993. Presents a list of approaches to the theme that could be taken as topics for study. Includes informational media, rhetoric and social change, transmission of cultural values, technology, and miscommunication. Contains a bibliography for each topic. (DK)

Provides a brief introduction to ways functional grammatical concepts can be used to understand the distinctive literacy demands of school science and history texts. Distinguishes this grammar from that of everyday language; examines the characteristic grammatical and discourse forms of content area learning; and discusses developing functional…

The emerging profession of public history includes archivists, business historians, and those in historic preservation. Increasing numbers of colleges are offering curricula in the field. (MSE)

Reports that a Texas advocacy group discovered thousands of errors in U.S. history textbooks. Notes that the books underwent the review after drawing favorable reactions from Texas education officials. Identifies possible explanations for the errors and steps being taken to reduce errors in the future. (SG)

Describes the Advanced Placement U.S. history program which allows students to earn college credit by taking a standardized test while still in high school. Reviews procedures for selection of multiple choice questions on this test from 1960-1984. States that multiple choice type questions on this test have changed since 1960, but not…

Recognizes the decline of history instruction and reports the results of the recent pilot test of the history knowledge of 17-year-old high school students by the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Lists the various projects of the National Endowment for the Humanities designed to strengthen United States History instruction. (JDH)

Educators can construct practices that provoke processes of remembrance to alter the way the past is made present in desires, plans, and actions. The paper highlights the collective aspect of living memory to emphasize the organized, nonidiosyncratic quality of such memories. Four historical events are examined. (SM)

This occasional paper discusses and examines the role of history as a link between the past and the future. The paper advocates one of the tasks of historians is to keep the present in reasonable touch with the past and with the hope of helping the present to accept and understand the future when it comes. The report cites the declining enrollment…

Describes how a role-playing approach may be used to capture the style, flavor, and conversation of nineteenth-century British life through the staging of a Victorian tea. Examines the economic, social, and cultural questions addressed through the technique. Also discusses evaluation and student impact and recommends the activity for any…