Title: Chapter 3: American History in the Classroom | AHA
Headings: 
Chapter 3: American History in the Classroom
A. The Status of American History in the Schools
B. The Status of American History in the Colleges
Major Studies Consulted

Content: The difficulties are numerous. For example, the laws concerning the teaching of state history, state documents, the federal Constitution, the state constitution, and American institutions and ideals, are interpreted in some states as implying a mandate to teach United States history. The phrase “American institutions and ideals” appears in the school laws of Arizona, California, Wyoming, Georgia, South Carolina, and two or three other states. In some states the department of education, the attorney general, or the courts have construed this phrase to mean that American history shall be taught. Whether one should say, in such instances, that it is required by law or by regulation of the department of education is a moot point. Table V presents an inclusive picture of the requirements for the teaching of United States history in both the elementary and the secondary schools. Three symbols have been employed to show the situation in each state: an x means that a state law exists which either specifically requires the teaching of American history at the indicated grade level, or has been interpreted as such a requirement; the letters D-E mean that a course or courses in American history are prescribed by the state departments of education; a zero means that there is no state-wide requirement for the teaching of American history, either by state law or by state department regulation.