Cross Case Features: Context

Alternative School: State Context

The state high school curriculum, in particular, affords opportunities to include content about Asia in several areas. Ninth graders study China as part of the World History curriculum. Tenth graders focus on World Geography and contemporary issues, including required content on China. The eleventh- and twelfth-grade curriculum is devoted to American History, but teachers can also connect to Asian studies as it relates to American History. Describing the state standards, one teacher said, “I think the teachers can teach whatever they want even though we’re moving towards the standardized assessment. There’s a great deal of freedom in my school and in most schools. That’s why I say it’s personal commitment.”

There is some concern about new state requirements being developed as a result of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Some teachers worry that the national trend to develop a high-stakes accountability system may limit schools’ and teachers’ abilities to make Asian studies a priority within the schools. Some teachers suggest that these may affect the state’s focus on Global Studies and also the individual freedom that many teachers have to teach what they think best. One NCTA participant says, “I do think the NCLB act will probably limit the amount of culture other than American that the kids will get.” Another comments, “We won’t be making puppets or making kimonos if we’re doing standardized tests.”