Palmer students learn Alaskan history

JOEL DAVIDSON/Frontiersman reporter

PALMER - Alaskan politicians, historians and dignitaries agree that students in the state's public schools should know more about the state's history.

Last month, the state Board of Education voted unanimously to approve new regulations requiring all high school students to demonstrate proficiency in Alaska history before receiving their high school diplomas. The regulations take effect in 2009.

The idea may be popular, but it's people like Bill Siedler who are charged with taking the regulations and turning them into something that actually makes an impact in the classroom.

Siedler teaches social studies at Palmer High School. In August, he volunteered to receive training on how to use a new Alaska history class developed by the Alaska Humanities Forum. Siedler joined teachers from 25 schools across the state for an intense training week.

Throughout the current school year, those teachers will be presenting the new pilot curriculum to high school students across the state.

"I love the course and I love what they've done with it," Siedler said, "but it still needs a little work."

For now, 18 students at Palmer High School are receiving elective credits for volunteering to take the experimental class.

Support for a history course received statewide attention when Commonwealth North, a nonpartisan think tank, released the 2000 Urban Rural Unity Study, which found a considerable lack of historical knowledge among Alaskans.

Based on these findings, Commonwealth North asked the Alaska Humanities Forum to develop a high school-level Alaska history curriculum that could be used by schools across the state.

With $1.2 million in federal aid, Alaska Humanities Forum accepted the task of developing a quality curriculum. The course reflects extensive research by Alaskan authors and scholars. While developing the course, the humanities forum garnered wide support from state officials, educators and historians.

Ira Perman, president of Alaska Humanities Forum, said he hopes the state Department of Education draws from the work his group has already done, as it finalizes the statewide standards.

This year, Siedler's class has covered a wide range of Alaskan issues. On Friday the class studied the famous Harriman Expedition of 1899, when a group of scientists, artists and historians sailed around parts of Alaska's coastline, documenting the state's geography, wildlife and Native cultures.

"Most of these kids have so little knowledge of the history of their state," Siedler said. "This course makes them aware of Alaska Native culture."

Throughout his class, Siedler's students have learned about famous Alaskan explorers, Russian fur traders, Captain Cook's voyage, Russian Orthodox Christianity and many other aspects of Alaska's geography and history.

"This course may not train you for a specific career, but it will make you a better Alaskan citizen," Siedler said.

Joey Waterer is one of Siedler's students who said the class has raised his awareness.

"I thought I knew about Alaska history, but after this class I'll know a lot more," he said.

Fellow student Claudette Lampley agreed.

"I'm learning a lot, mostly geography," she said. "It's totally different from other history classes because there's more detail."

Later this year, the Department of Education is slated to present statewide Alaska history standards for the state Board of Education's approval.

Once approved, the new curriculum will be recommended to school districts across the state. Each district then has freedom to use the Alaska history curriculum in its entirety or as a supplement to their current Alaska history programs.

Between now and then, the Alaska Humanities Forum pilot course will continue to be evaluated. Teachers who volunteered to teach the course this year are slated to convene in Anchorage on Jan. 21 to discuss pros and cons of the curriculum.

Perman said the Alaska Humanities Forum hopes to recruit even more teachers to teach the pilot course next year. Teachers will be recruited over the rest of the current school year, with training sessions slated for the summer.

Siedler said he hopes to see more teachers get involved next year.

"These kids are learning things that they would never have gotten anywhere else."

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.