Recently, Oklahoma tried to pass a bill to ban AP US History after College Board replaced their list of topics for the course with more specifics; critics argue that the changes include too many negative aspects of American history and should focus more on its positive aspects to promote patriotism. The new framework is explicit in what students should learn. However, traditional aspects of history such as George Washington and the Holocaust are absent from this new list, causing attacks from the Republican National Committee, who state these new objectives make students hate America. Historians defend the new framework for reflecting the complex truths of American history.
It is not the first time that topics taught in US history has sparked controversy. The Confederate states rejected textbooks favoring the Union and abolition of slavery, the slightest favor toward the British during the American Revolution sparked panic, criticism of laissez-faire led to Communist name calling. So, this new framework of the AP US history curriculum is nothing new. Deciding if some of the topics College Boards wants students to learn are offensive or not is entirely subjective and dependent on the state; in my opinion, the ban is Oklahoma's loss. It is not interesting, realistic or helpful to avoid specific details (that may or may not put America in a bad light) and to teach students what they already know since kids in America have been taught to feel patriotic and know major figures and events in American history.
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