RESOURCE ANNOUNCED

Thank you C-SPAN. They are releasing all of their footage online for free. This is great for historians. It makes digging through all of the political footage you want so much easier. I haven't had to chance to dig but I can't wait. Why wasn't this done over spring break :(

C-SPAN Video Archive
New York Timess Article

Curriculum Again

Who gets to decide history? In Texas it is the State Board of Education who has just passed sweeping legislative changes to its history, economics, and sociology curriculum. This has national impact because Texas is one of the nation's largest textbook buyers and as a result the textbooks are impacted across the nation. Many of the changes promote a more conservative and heritage based of American History. It wants to show that the Founding Fathers did not necessarily want a secular nation. It will also include the Black Panthers and not just Martin Luther King Jr. The conservatives are claiming their adding balance to the liberal education system while the liberals are claiming a rewrite of history.

Who is right? Who should decide what is taught? Below are links to the New York Times Article and the Houston Chronicle article.

New York Times
Houston Chronicle

Stuart Dunnings II

Stuart Dunnings II passed away on Wednesday due to natural causes. He is one of the men interviewed in Matt Miller's article which is assisting us in our I-496 Project. He was the first Lansing's first black lawyer and an important part of the legal community. Below is the link to Christine Rook piece about him from the Lansing State Journal.

Report

Curriculum and the Textbook Debate Again

Earlier in our semester we discussed the various curriculums in the United States. This article from the AP looks at the most popular science textbooks used for homeschools and dives into the debate of evolution and creationism. Established educators disagrees with the books and their anti-evolution beliefs. Is it important to show both sides of the debate. If a person understands both sides they are more rounded and I believe will feel that their side is correct after examining both sides. However, this means both sides need to be taught. Not just creationism nor just evolution both need to be in the classroom. For more on the article click on the link below.

Dylan Lovan's Article

More Smithsonian News

While looking at my favorite celebrity gossip website TMZ they had this article about the possibility of O.J. Simpson's acquittal suit being donated to the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian said they would not take the suit but it is interesting to determined what is history and what should be preserved.

Smithsonian Post

Thanks but no Thanks

Enola Gay Controversy Continued

A few weeks ago I published a post about the Enola Gay Controversy. Now a new book on the bombing Hiroshima has been put on hold due to some inaccuracies. Just more drama for the Enola Gay and the Hiroshima bombing. Below is the link from Yahoo News written by Hillel Italie of the Associated Press

Article

Boy am I confused

As I sit hear reading this book Urban America by John McDonald(the book I was supposed to read) and trying to determine the usefulness of it I couldn't. I don't know how useful this book would be because I don't know what I'm looking for. Until I know the way our project is going to shape up I don't know if it is useful. The informatation is great and the book is informative but I do not know if we can use it. A full report will be up on by Friday :)