Articles of the Week #3: APUSH

As a former U.S. history student, you have been called upon to review the recent events in Colorado and recommend a course of action for the Jefferson County School District, the second largest district in Colorado. Your task this week is to read several articles on the APUSH issue. In a two to three page letter to the Jefferson County school board, please address the following:

• Review why students and teachers in the Jefferson County School District are unhappy. Identify the source of the conflict. 
• Explain why students and teachers are justified in their walkouts, or why the school board is correct in proposing revisions to the APUSH curriculum. Analyze the fairness or unfairness of the APUSH curriculum.
• Explain how the media has influenced public perception of this issue. 
• Discuss any other points you consider pertinent to the issue. 
• Propose a course of action for the school district.

Read these articles (and others as well) to help you write your letter:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/lifestyle/education/what-in-the-ap-us-history-curriculum-apush-sparked-controversy-in-the-jeffco-school-district

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/24/jefferson-county-students-protest_n_5876716.html

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/09/24/hundreds-colorado-students-protest-proposed-history-curriculum-changes/

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/student-walk-outs-possible-at-pomona-arvada-west-and-ralston-valley-high-schools-tuesday

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/trending/jeffco-school-board-lampooned-on-twitter-over-proposed-revisionist-history-lessons

I will not be grading annotations this week. I will only be assessing your letter for your ability to summarize the issue, make inferences, cite evidence to support your thinking, and write a clear, cohesive argument in favor of the board and its actions or the students and teachers who are currently protesting. 

Your letter is due Thursday, October 9th.