According to Title 18A of the New Jersey State Statutes, each school district "shall adopt a suitable two-year course of study in the history of the United States, including the history of New Jersey, to be given to each student during the last four years of high school." Furthermore, the law states that each school district "shall adopt a course of study in community civics, the geography, history and civics of New Jersey. . . to be taken by all pupils in the public elementary schools in the grade or grades in which it given . . ." (Italics added.)

Teaching New Jersey history and geography is a major priority of the Core Curriculum Content Standards. Within these standards, there are many places where the teaching of Women's History and gender differentiation is appropriate. The Social Studies Standards specifically refer to a "historical understanding" of New Jersey in the following areas:

Standard 6.1, Cumulative Progress Indicator 5 -- By the end of Grade 4 students should be able to identify the New Jersey Constitution as one of the key documents "which represent democratic principles and beliefs." (Italics added.)

Standard 6.1, Cumulative Progress Indicator 13 -- By the end of Grade 12 students should be able to "analyze the balance between the rights and responsibilities of citizens, and apply the analysis to understanding issues facing society in New Jersey and the United States." (Italics added.)

Standard 6.3 -- All students will acquire historical understanding of political and diplomatic ideas, forces, and institutions throughout the history of New Jersey, the United States and the World. (Italics added.)

Standard 6.4 -- All students will acquire historical understanding of societal ideas and forces throughout the history of New Jersey, the United States and the World. (Italics added.)

Standard 6.5 -- All students will acquire historical understanding of varying cultures throughout the history of New Jersey, the United States, and the World. (Italics added.)

Standard 6.6 -- All students will acquire historical understanding of economic forces, ideas, and institutions throughout the history of New Jersey, the United States, and the World. (Italics added.)

Credit: NJ Historical Commission, David S. Cohen, link to Web site:
 
http:// www.state.nj.us/state/history/topicalguide.html