Did you have to study your state history in school?

lifesaver · #1 11-08-2004, 01:53 AM

In Texas all public school kids have to study Texas history in 7th grade. If you attend a public university in Texas you have to take 3 credit hours of Texas History or Texas Politics (Texas state government).

Me and some of my friends were discussing our shared, yet individual 7th grade Texas History stories and got to wondering if other states require their students to take a state history course.

So did ya? What state, and what grade was the class required?

Sistermadly · #2 11-08-2004, 02:04 AM

Georgia, and I seem to remember that in high school you could choose between state history and social studies. This was a long time ago, though (the early 80s). I don't remember state history being a requirement for my university degree.

Nikki_DZ · #3 11-08-2004, 02:08 AM

Ohio History was required in either 7th or 8th grade, as of the early 90's (I'm assuming it's still that way). I took it in 7th grade. I specifically remember having to do reports that listed famous Ohioans from specific genres (politics, sports, etc.). I had famous musicians, and being the little headbanger I was, based my entire presentation around Janie Lane of Warrant, who hails from Cleveland. Soooo embarassing.

#4 11-08-2004, 02:14 AM

Being a military brat for awhile(before gettin the call to "home") i went to elementary schools in Virginia and Colorado. While the age it was studied varied, i did take Colorado history i think in 5th grade. My sister, who was 2 years behind me got history at all 3 stops.

Texas history is not *required* at A&M, but a Texas government class is. You can use the Texas history class to satisfy one of your 2 required history classes.

KS 361

Jill1228 · #5 11-08-2004, 02:30 AM

Yup had to do it in 11th grade
ETA: I grew up in Virginia

Munchkin03 · #6 11-08-2004, 02:31 AM

Florida.

We had a Florida history class in 4th grade, and then it was integrated in 11th grade US History.

amycat412 · #7 11-08-2004, 02:56 AM

In Nevada, we studied state history and had to prepare an intensive report on it in 7th grade.

abaici · #8 11-08-2004, 03:10 AM

According to the State Standards for Social Studies, California history is taught primarily in the 4th grade. Students receive some early California history in the 8th grade, because it's US history up until 1865.

CSUSigEp · #9 11-08-2004, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by abaici
According to the State Standards for Social Studies, California history is taught primarily in the 4th grade. Students receive some early California history in the 8th grade, because it's US history up until 1865.

yeah im pretty sure we did California history in 4th grade, I remember learning a lot about the Gold Rush

sugar and spice · #10 11-08-2004, 03:31 AM

Wisconsin.

We studied it in elementary school, I know, but I don't recall it being a major part of the curriculum after that.

Glitter650 · #11 11-08-2004, 03:34 AM

Yup Cali history is 4th grade.... did anyone else from Cali build a mission ??

bruinaphi · #12 11-08-2004, 04:17 AM

California.

We spend all of 4th grade on California History, like is mentioned above.

I went to private school, but the requirements apply to all schools, not just public.

My favorite activities: I built a mission and went to Sacramento on a field trip and met the governor. It was really cool. We also built these huge replicas of the state out of plaster of paris and marked the different regions of the state, where all the missions were located and where the different tribes lived.

lifesaver · #13 11-08-2004, 04:45 AM

This is interesting, but I should have been more clear. I am not asking if you touched on it in school. What I am asking is if you had a year of history (or a semester) solely dedicated to the historical study of your state. The class was known as Oregon History, etc. As in, "8th grade history is only Wyoming History."

I imagine everyone touched on their state history, regardless of where you grew up. Knowing you studied it dosent really answer the question. Was there a year or semester of a class called (Fill in the blank with your state name here) History?

This helps answer the question, which is what states require their students to take a class just on the state history. I wonder this because as you all know, Texans are in love with themselves. I knwo there are numerous reasons, but can one factor be the marketing we do to our own kids growing up in 7th grade with the compulsary class? So do states with somewhat less exciting history require a class in their history? Is there enough content to have a whole class?

AGDee · #14 11-08-2004, 07:31 AM

Michigan

4th grade. The entire 4th grade social studies curriculum is Michigan. Half the year is history, half the year is current/government structure/economy/symbols, etc.

The history/social studies curriculum is very organized.. 2nd grade is their own community, 3rd grade is the region/county, 4th grade is the state, 5th grade is the early govt, US through the Revolutionary War, 6th grade is the Western World, 7th is the Eastern World, 8th is 19th century American history, 9th is Civics, 10th is 20th century American, 11th is World History. So, they start with what is familiar to them and work their way outward.

I think each state probably has enough history to fill an entire year.

aephi alum · #15 11-08-2004, 09:26 AM

I never had to take a course entitled "New York History". I learned a good deal of state history through my US History courses (you can't discuss the Revolutionary War without mentioning NY), but I never had a dedicated semester or year of state history.

It is possible that students in the public elementary schools get a semester or year dedicated to state history. I attended Catholic school through 5th grade... they didn't care how much history (or anything else) you knew as long as you could recite the Lord's Prayer correctly.

(Not knocking Catholic schools in general, some of them are excellent... mine just happened to suck.)