Center for American Progress

Donate

Center for American Progress

American History
Article

American History

Conservative efforts to whitewash the history taught in our schools harms students, writes the author.

Part of a Series

idea_bulbWhose version of history is worthy to be taught in U.S. schools?

Well, that might depend on your point of view—or your politics. If some conservative lawmakers have their way, only a scrubbed and polished version of our nation’s past will pass muster.

According to ThinkProgress’ Judd Legum, a legislative committee in the Oklahoma House of Representatives has voted overwhelmingly to ban the Advanced Placement history curriculum in the state’s public high schools. These lawmakers are alarmed by what some of them believe is a too liberal version of history being forced-fed to innocent children. Oklahoma State Rep. Dan Fisher (R) introduced the legislation and was quoted in the Tulsa World saying his bill is necessary because the state’s Advanced Placement, or AP, U.S. history course framework puts too much emphasis on “what is bad about America.”

For more on this idea, please see:

The positions of American Progress, and our policy experts, are independent, and the findings and conclusions presented are those of American Progress alone. A full list of supporters is available here. American Progress would like to acknowledge the many generous supporters who make our work possible.

Explore The Series

Previous
Next