Rationale:
Understanding our state’s history is important to provide the context of where
Alaskans came from and what we as Alaskans value about the diversity and
richness of our state. It is fundamental to being an informed and effective
participant in state and local affairs. An understanding of how Alaska’s
economy and form of government developed is crucial to understanding how to
deal with today’s issues.
Commonwealth North’s study in
2000 on the urban/rural divide in Alaska found that if we do nothing to address
the critical issues that divide Alaskans, the result will be an increasingly
fragmented state, with discouraging economic growth and increasing social and
cultural clashes. Commonwealth North put forth a set of recommendations and
action items, including the teaching of Alaska history at the high school
level, and backed up the recommendation with an active working committee.
In addition, resolutions have
also been passed at the AFN Convention calling for Alaska history education.
The Alaska Municipal League issued a policy statement in support of civic
education for Alaska’s students, noting that teaching children how to
understand and influence their government is critical to the well-being of
Alaska.
The Anchorage School Board
believes that every student graduating from an Alaska secondary school should
have a demonstrable understanding of Alaska’s rich and unique history. As a
result, the Board approved a one semester (.5 credit) Alaska Studies course
this past year as a graduation requirement for high school students at the
junior or senior level. This requirement begins with the freshman class that
entered high school this fall (Class of 2006). By expanding the requirement
statewide, the Legislature will bring educational consistency to this area of
statewide civic concern, as well as bring down the per-pupil cost of course
development.
