Teaching American History in Our Public Schools: The Elementary School Curriculum

Thomas Jefferson famously declared, “A properly functioning
democracy depends upon an informed electorate.” Franklin D.
Roosevelt said, "the real safeguard of democracy is education."
Our education system is essential to maintaining democracy.

America’s faith in democracy begins at a young age. Elementary
school children learn that Americans value individual rights,
freedom, and democracy. It should be no surprise that
anti-democratic forces are targeting our children, too.

How can we protect our school children, and educate them
regarding the true realities many Americans have faced
historically and continue to undergo? Are Republicans banning
books and criminalizing the teaching of American history? Are
Liberals indoctrinating our children? These accusations have
caused heated conflicts at school board meetings.

Gina Clayton-Tarvin has been valiantly dealing with these
important issues firsthand as a Trustee on the Ocean View School
District Governing Board of Education and as a member of the
Executive Board of the ABC Federation of Teachers. She has spent
25 years as a classroom teacher, union leader, and elected school
board trustee. She is currently a candidate for the Huntington
Beach City Council.

Gina speaks to us about the teaching of American history and
government in our schools and about how to get young people
interested and involved in elections and voting. She brings a
wealth of knowledge, experience, and information to our platform
and she has much to share with us on how we can remain actively
engaged for our children, their future, and the health of our
democracy.