AP US History Framework Won’t Give Students Grounding in Civic Virtues

The growing battle over the College Board’s Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) framework is being described by Politico and others as the usual scrape over American exceptionalism. It is that to a point, of course. But it is really about national survival.

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The continuation of self-government and liberty depends on the willingness of citizens to sacrifice for a greater good, which in turn relies on a sound educational grounding on civic virtues. The College Board’s latest framework seems almost intended to rupture these connections. The College Board is a non-profit organization that for decades has administered advanced placement tests to about half a million high school students. In order to help teachers prepare their charges for the tests, the College Board gives “thematic” guidance. Thus its frameworks. More...

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