Public opinion and the teaching of history in the United States

by Bessie Louise Pierce

[228] Report of the Committee on Social Studies of the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education of the National Education Association, “The Social Studies in Secondary Education,” Bulletin, 1916, No. 28, Department of the Interior (Washington, 1916).

[229] According to a statement in The New York Times, March 30, 1924, the National Security League has been partly responsible for many enactments requiring the teaching of the federal constitution.

[230] General Laws of Vermont, 1917, ch. 60, sec. 1277, p. 301.

[231] Laws of Montana, 1917, ch. 128, par. 601, p. 309; Digest of the Statutes of Arkansas, 1919, ch. 158, par. 9066, p. 547. Accepted February 20, 1917.

[232] In 1921, New Hampshire included in her curriculum the study of history and civil government in a law to reinstate foreign languages as a study in the public schools. In 1919 history and civics were required for all schools. Laws of New Hampshire, 1921, ch. 85, sec. 10(3), p. 125; ibid., 1919, ch. 106, sec. 13(1). In 1918, Connecticut carried over a law from the Revision of 1902 prescribing United States history, General Statutes of Connecticut, 1918, ch. 44, sec. 835, Vol. I, p. 308. Pennsylvania incorporated a law of 1911 prescribing instruction in general history and civil government in her Statute Law of 1920, Digest of the Statute Law of Pennsylvania, 1920, par. 5102, p. 470. In Kentucky, United States history, state history and civil government were required in 1918, carried over from a law of 1893. Statutes of Kentucky, 1918, art. III, par. 4383, Vol. III, p. 866; Laws, 1916, ch. 24, art. III, sec. 24, p. 162. In Texas in the Compiled Statutes of 1920, was again included a law requiring the teaching of civil government and state and national history. Statutes of Texas, 1920, art. 2783, p. 467.

[233] Laws of Delaware, 1919, 2283, sec. 11, p. 356. This is found also in Laws, Special Session, 1920, 97th Assembly, sec. 12, Vol. XXXI, p. 113.

[234] General Laws of Alabama, 1919, art. 3, p. 571; Acts of Georgia, 1919, sec. 18, p. 295.

[235] Compilation of the Statutes of Tennessee, 1917, art. XV, 1453, Vol. I, p. 983, ibid., 1454.

[236] Statutes of Texas, op. cit.

[237] Laws of South Dakota, 1919, sec. 7511, p. 154.