SHELBY, N.C. -- Almost in view of Kings Mountain is Shelby High School in Cleveland County.
But if a proposal by the state Department of Public Instruction is adopted, the importance of the Revolutionary War battle fought there would no longer be taught at Shelby High or any other high school in North Carolina.
The department is proposing that no history prior to 1877 be taught in high schools. Instead, history classes in elementary and middle schools would cover that period.
The proposal would mean that high school level history classes would no longer cover much of the Civil War, the pilgrims, or even the Declaration of Independence. Some of that would, however, be included in some civics classes.
Republican State Sen. Debbie Clary of Shelby said, "I think it was appalling to us to eliminate history of any sort of this young country that we have."
She said the Legislature, as a rule, does not like to interfere with what the state school system does, but added, "This is one of those cases where you'll see the Legislature step in and micro-manage."
On the streets of Shelby, people are talking about the proposal.
"We can't ignore history," said Tommy Weaver, who was walking a block away from the Civil War monument in downtown Shelby. "History is one of those things we got to learn from."
Even students at Shelby High recognized the value of history.
"It's important," said Destiny Hamrick. "Because we are young, we need to know about it."
The department emphasized to lawmakers that this is only a "first draft" of what their final proposal will be.
