Grade school textbook fills in history of Oregon's racist acts
Portland Public Schools is poised to adopt a new curriculum today, making the district the first in the state to use a textbook exploring Oregon's racial history.
'This is not your traditional Oregon history kids may have learned in social studies class in fourth grade,' said Marcia Arganbright, district director of curriculum and instruction.
'Beyond the Oregon Trail: Oregon's Untold History' is one of four books recommended for eighth-grade social studies classes.
Arganbright said the district did not seek out a curriculum that dealt with racism but found that 'Beyond the Oregon Trail' accomplished the district's major goals: highlighting Oregon history and analyzing various perspectives of historical events and issues.
It took the book's three authors nearly a year to take a topic that makes most adults uncomfortable and create language and content to suit the 13-year-old intellect and emotional maturity.
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'This is not your traditional Oregon history kids may have learned in social studies class in fourth grade,' said Marcia Arganbright, district director of curriculum and instruction.
'Beyond the Oregon Trail: Oregon's Untold History' is one of four books recommended for eighth-grade social studies classes.
Arganbright said the district did not seek out a curriculum that dealt with racism but found that 'Beyond the Oregon Trail' accomplished the district's major goals: highlighting Oregon history and analyzing various perspectives of historical events and issues.
It took the book's three authors nearly a year to take a topic that makes most adults uncomfortable and create language and content to suit the 13-year-old intellect and emotional maturity.