[NCAH] New History Wars

[Martin, James]

Thanks for sharing this, Melinda.

Jim Martin

-----Original Message-----
From: NCAH [mailto:ncah-bounces at nchistorians.org] On Behalf Of Melinda Pash
Sent: Friday, September 05, 2014 12:15 PM
To: Listserv of the North Carolina Association of Historians; Listserv of the North Carolina Association of Historians
Subject: Re: [NCAH] New History Wars

I found the article interesting, but very wrong in one instance. The author states, "Fewer and fewer college professors are teaching the United States history our grandparents learned — memorizing a litany of names, dates and facts — and this upsets some people. “College-level work” now requires attention to context, and change over time; includes greater use of primary sources; and reassesses traditional narratives." I find that the push for assessment (put forward by SACS and all too readily accepted by college administrators who seem to care less about the quality of the educational product being produced than about retention and expansion of the student body) is forcing more and more history professors to water down classes so that student success can be measured quantitatively (multiple choice anyone?). In other words, I think that we are going in the other direction, back toward memorizing names and dates and away from thinking critically and meaningfully about the past.

This is also related to your other email, Dorothea. With the absence of tenure (as is true at the institution where I am employed), professors have little control over the content and format of their own classes. That power rests in the hands of people who seldom have taught in the classroom and have many concerns other than educational quality. At my institution, standardization is the new-old buzzword and it has been intimated that within the next couple of years all history classes will have to follow the same common syllabus with the same assignments/assessments. In other words, not even the parts of the past that will be emphasized will be left to the instructor's discretion. What is happening in our public schools (emphasis on pedagogy rather than on teaching and fanatical devotion to checking the right boxes) is trickling up in the name of accountability. What is happening at my school now will be happening at yours within a decade. 

Melinda


-----Original Message-----
>From: David Dorondo <dorondo at wcu.edu>
>Sent: Sep 5, 2014 11:08 AM
>To: Listserv of the North Carolina Association of Historians <ncah at nchistorians.org>
>Subject: Re: [NCAH] New History Wars
>
>Good stuff, this. Thanks for sending!
>
>D. R. Dorondo, Obl.S.B., D.Phil.
>Sossoman Professor of History
>Department of History
>Western Carolina University
>Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723
>
>Tel: 828-227-3908
>E-mail: dorondo at email.wcu.edu
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: NCAH [mailto:ncah-bounces at nchistorians.org] On Behalf Of Dorothea Hoffman [Martin]
>Sent: Thursday, September 04, 2014 7:24 PM
>Subject: [NCAH] New History Wars
>
>As the new semester starts I think this story is very informative, especially for those teaching US history.  The College Board is deeply engaged in the debate, of course.
>
>http://nyti.ms/1pjNrIF
>
>Best,
>Dorothea 
>
>
>--
>North Carolina Association of Historians (NCAH) listserv
>
>Replies will be submitted to the listserv moderation queue not to the author of the post.
>
>Edit your subscriber preferences: http://mail.nchistorians.org/mailman/listinfo/ncah_nchistorians.org
>
>Visit our webpage: http://www.nchistorians.org
>
>Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCHistorians
>
>--
>North Carolina Association of Historians (NCAH) listserv
>
>Replies will be submitted to the listserv moderation queue not to the author of the post.
>
>Edit your subscriber preferences: http://mail.nchistorians.org/mailman/listinfo/ncah_nchistorians.org
>
>Visit our webpage: http://www.nchistorians.org
>
>Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCHistorians


--
North Carolina Association of Historians (NCAH) listserv

Replies will be submitted to the listserv moderation queue not to the author of the post.

Edit your subscriber preferences: http://mail.nchistorians.org/mailman/listinfo/ncah_nchistorians.org

Visit our webpage: http://www.nchistorians.org

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NCHistorians