How the politicization of history education led to Michigan’s fall

Abstract

The authors describe the politicization of the process to revise Michigan’s social studies standards from 2005 to the present. In 2005, critics objected to the omission of topics they considered important, even though the content expectations document was not intended to be an exhaustive list of material to be covered. The latest, more limited revision, is being criticized for its leftward political leanings. The authors suggest that critics lack the expertise in the subject matter and that it is dangerous to let politically motivated non-experts make curricular decisions.