As a history major, I find the idea of reducing the time frame of US History being studied by high school juniors to be appalling.  Our students are not getting nearly enough instruction in history in the first place.  The lack of knowledge of history and current events both among the general public is atrocious, and we are not doing our students or our nation any favors not spending more time on all of our history, including the colonization and founding of our nation.  This is a special country, founded on ideas.  There are too many people who already don’t understand that concept, because it is not being stressed enough in our public school system.  Our nation is not perfect, but it’s the best nation on earth with the best people on earth, and it is precisely because of the sacrifices and forethought of our Founding Fathers and the early citizens that make our country the best nation on earth.

Please, please reconsider this idea and if any changes are going to be made, increase the instruction in US History rather than decrease it.

Martha Jenkins

Chapel Hill, NC

B.A. History

College of William and Mary, ’78