THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 1, 1994 TAG: 9411010271
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B01 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Marc Tibbs
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
Just a few weeks ago, Hampton Roads was all abuzz over whether historians at Colonial Williamsburg should have recreated a 17th century slave auction.
``It was too painful,'' some said.
``It's an event that shouldn't be used as entertainment,'' said others.
Officials from around the state protested, and the controversy brought national attention. The prevailing sentiment seemed to be that history, no matter how shocking, should be presented truthfully.
A 271-page curriculum guide called the ``National Standards for United States History: Exploring the American Experience'' is creating a similar furor.
Critics of the guide (including talk show host Rush Limbaugh) say the document presents a grim view of American history and slights ``traditional'' American heroes.
Among other things, the guide characterizes Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy (probably the only U.S. senator in history to have an ``ism'' attached to his name) as a demagogue for seeing Communists around every corner. It makes frequent mention of the role of the Ku Klux Klan in the American South.
The authors say American history has its grim aspects and, like the slave auction, ought not to be viewed through rose-colored glasses.
``We don't want to sugarcoat history,'' said Gary Nash, history professor at UCLA and co-director of the National Council for History Standards, which published the controversial guidelines.
``We have to look history in the face and admit our mistakes,'' Nash said. ``There are some dark chapters in our history.''
Chapters like Thomas Jefferson and George Mason as slaveowners. Chapters where Japanese Americans are sent to concentration camps during World War II. Neither of these truths takes anything away from the fact that Jefferson and Mason were architects of American freedom, or that victory in the Second World War changed the face of the world.
The guidelines aren't mandatory for schools, although they have the blessing of the Education Department as well as the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association.
Nash and representatives from about 35 educational organizations spent 2 1/2 years developing the standards. The group of teachers, parents, historians and educators produced five drafts before finalizing the document.
``We were faced with (the challenge of) how to achieve a balanced but inclusive framework,'' Nash said. ``Just how much women's history do we include? How much black history? How much Native American history?
``We think we have written something that's going to light up the classroom.''
Commissioned by the Bush administration, its $1.5 million budget was funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
``It did surprise me that so many people were objecting to it,'' Nash said. ``All of the flak is coming from the far right.
``They're upset because their little game has been spoiled. I view history as intellectual property, and the ownership has changed.''
The Williamsburg auction was a tearful experience for many who attended, but its historical accuracy was rejuvenating even for some who had originally protested.
Likewise, we should embrace the history of America that includes her tragedies as well as her triumphs. by CNB