To Know Ourselves [microform] : The Report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Teaching of Iowa History

In 1988 the State Historical Society of Iowa appointed a Blue Ribbon task force composed of 45 Iowans to study the teaching of Iowa history at all levels of the educational system and to make recommendations. The task force formed committees to study in detail four specific areas of concern: (1) comparable studies of other states; (2) curriculum; (3) instructional resources; and (4) teacher training. The findings and recommendations of each of the task force committees are presented in separate reports, and each report employs the same format, with topics organized under the headings of Goal, Objectives, Assumptions, Research, Analysis, and Recommendations. The committee membership is listed following each report. Among the major task force findings are: there are no specific requirements on curricula, content, course term, or teacher training; although a large quantity of historical materials on Iowa history exists, it is uneven in both quality and accessibility; and teacher training in Iowa history is inadequate. Four appendices conclude the report: an organizational chart; a list of task force members; a list of resources; and a report of a curricular survey. (DB)