Berger: Don’t Leave Founding Fathers and Constitution out of U.S. History Classes
February 4, 2010Raleigh, N.C. – Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) responded to the ongoing controversy involving proposed revision of the U.S. History curriculum in North Carolina high school classrooms by sending letters to Governor Bev Perdue and State Superintendent June Atkinson asking them to oppose the ill-advised changes. Under the new curriculum, North Carolina U.S. History classes required of every public high school student would omit history from the country’s founding until 1877, leaving out the context, history, and background of seminal moments and events, including: how the country came into existence, the writing and ratification of the Constitution, and North Carolina’s critical role in the life of the young nation from colonial times through the Civil War.
Senator Berger writes in part:
“From the time North Carolina opened its first public school, our classrooms have been a place for students to learn about and celebrate our country’s founding and North Carolina’s unique place in our constitutional Republic. Ignoring key parts of our history and heritage fails to provide the sound, basic education that all students need and deserve.
“North Carolina’s public schools have been a key to providing opportunity for our young people. The proposed curriculum changes will shortchange our students and North Carolina’s future.”
