Moving Beyond a Whitewashed History: Advocating for a Culturally Responsive History Curriculum (2015)

Undergraduate: Dylan Kite

Faculty Advisor: Patrick Akos
Department: History

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This paper examines current education policy regarding history curricula in North Carolina public schools and advocates the implementation of a culturally responsive alternative. Current policy, promoted by the Bill of Rights Institute and backed by the conservative Koch brothers, offers a politicized, historically selective curriculum. This curriculum focuses primarily on European exploration of the New World, the Founding Fathers, and the development of America as a world power. This Euro and American-centric model diminishes the historical role of non-whites and caters learning to those of Anglo-American descent. With this in mind, multiple studies indicate that academic achievement increases when students study culturally relevant material, which places non-whites at a distinct disadvantage. The adoption of culturally representative content should act to narrow the history achievement gap and provide students with a more accurate and inclusive historical interpretation.