tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post8708506341245150938..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Looking for the R.N.C.’s “Critical Topics” in A.P. U.S. HistoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-39683163495486946242014-09-14T15:41:13.018-05:002014-09-14T15:41:13.018-05:00On that topic, I note that the 2006-07 guidelines ...On that topic, I note that the 2006-07 guidelines include “Views of the American national character and ideas about American exceptionalism” among the “Themes” for the test or course to cover. <br /><br />Because those older guidelines list themes are nouns, not as concepts in complete sentences, they don’t get into the thorny question of what “American exceptionalism” is or whether the idea holds up to scrutiny. But people who strongly believe in that idea can interpret those guidelines to say that it’s part of the course. <br /><br />I’m struck by the big overlap between complaints about the College Board’s changes and complaints about the Common Core standards developed by state education departments. J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-83800720402280404272014-09-14T10:39:08.503-05:002014-09-14T10:39:08.503-05:00I think, J.L., that when you get right down to it,...I think, J.L., that when you get right down to it, the RNC's reaction is strictly a political maneuver. It costs them nothing to make an objection while at the same time satisfying their more radical right wing elements. A lot of this type of stuff is nothing more than pure political rhetoric meant to inflame the base. In this case, those that prefer to believe what they're told without bothering to check for the facts themselves get a good dose of garbage.<br /><br />I have found it very interesting how most of the critics of the AP course are not historians and are not educators. Many of the individual comments on the HNN boards are from people who are neither as well and who also hide behind anonymity. Many express a deep seated belief in American Exceptionalism. I think that is rather telling of why they make the comments they do. It comes back to change which they do not understand because they are not taking the time to understand why the changes are being made.Xathoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05910312481367024828noreply@blogger.com