Developed through a broad-based national consensus building process, the national history standards project has involved working toward agreement both on the larger purposes of history in the school curriculum and on the more specific history understandings and thinking processes all students should have equal opportunity to acquire over 12 years…

Clarifies the advantages and disadvantages of teaching state and local history. Lists suggestions made by J. J. Blaga and L. E. Nielson for the improvement of state studies. Notes that these suggestions have significance for the long term but that methods for short-term improvement have not been forthcoming. (KO)