Why Study U.S. History?

Background on the Bradley Commission

The Bradley Commission on History in Schools was formed in 1987 in response to concerns regarding the quality and quantity of the history taught in American classrooms. The group was comprised of 16 of the most respected members of the history profession, including former presidents of each of the major professional organizations in history and a number of award-winning history teachers and writers. It was chaired by Kenneth T. Jackson, who went on, along with 189 concerned historians and educators, to form the National Council for History Education (NCHE) in 1990. The Commission's work was funded by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation.

All of the above information was taken from the following source: "About Bradley Commission on History in Schools." Designed Instruction. 9 Mar. 2008 <http://www.designedinstruction.com/reports/about_bradley_commission.html>.

(After Naturalization Cermony at Disney World)

The VITAL Message of the Bradley Commission

Teaching U.S. History is VITAL to creating a unified country. According to Kenneth Jackson,

"Unlike many other peoples, Americans are not bound together by a common religion or a common ethnicty. Instead, our binding heritage is a democratic vision of liberty, equality, and justice.

If Americans are to preserve that vision and bring

it to daily practice, it is imperative that all citizens

understand how it was shaped in the past."

Other important conclusions made by the report:

It [the report] sets forth a consensus of perspectives and ways of "historical thinking" that far transcend specific and useful facts. As the Commission words it: "'What of it?' is a worthy question and it requires an answer." To nurture these habits of mind, the Commission established a core set of Vital Themes and Narratives (see image).

To read the entire Bradley Commission report, follow this link to the National Council for History Education (NCHE).