8/12/14
12:01 PM EDT
Critics of the new framework for Advanced Placement U.S. History say they’re
not appeased by a letter from College Board President David Coleman asserting
that their critiques “are based on a significant misunderstanding” of the
course.In his letter, circulated Monday and first reported by Education Week, Coleman takes a conciliatory approach; he praises his critics as “patriots who care deeply about what students learn.” He describes the new framework as flexible, noting that teachers are free to introduce additional material, including topics required by state history standards.
In response, critics released their own letter calling Coleman’s defense of the course “misleading.”
“Mr. Coleman insists that ‘the new framework does not remove individuals or events that have been taught by AP teachers in prior years,’ “ they write. “Unfortunately, facts are stubborn things. The redesigned framework omits Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Dorothea Dix, William Lloyd Garrison, Theodore Roosevelt, Jonas Salk, Rosa Parks, Dwight Eisenhower, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many other notable American heroes.”
The letter was written by Larry Krieger, the author of AP U.S. History test prep guides, and Jane Robbins, a senior fellow at the American Principles Project. It was provided to POLITICO by Joy Pullman, a research fellow at the Heartland Institute.
The critics note that the course framework — which used to be just five pages long — now runs to 98 detailed pages. Given that length, they question how teachers will find time to address extra topics in class. In any case, they argue that teachers and students will have little incentive to deviate, since the AP exam will be based on the framework.
College Board spokeswoman Carly Lindauer said the new course does not downplay positive moments in U.S. history, as critics have charged. On the contrary, she said, it “emphasizes the American founding documents … and recognizes American heroism, courage and innovation.” Given the growing controversy, however, she said a revised framework would soon be released, with key points clarified “to avoid any further confusion.”
In another attempt to quiet critics, the College Board released a full practice exam for the new course. Critics are in the midst of analyzing the questions.
— Stephanie Simon
You've received this POLITICO Pro content because your customized settings include: Education Topic: K-12. To change your alert settings, please go to https://www.politicopro.com/member/?webaction=viewAlerts.
Click here
to report this email as spam.
No comments:
Post a Comment