High school students in Ohio would have to take a world history and civilizations class before graduating under a bill passed by the state Senate. Currently, world history is not a social studies requirement. Students must take American history and government, along with two social studies electives. The proposal would require that one elective be world history. The Senate passed the bill unanimously Wednesday, sending it to the House for consideration. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Frank LaRose, says schools already teach world history because it's been part of the state test seniors must take to graduate. However, that test is being phased out and replaced with end-of-course exams that don't cover world history. The Akron-area Republican says the test change has raised concerns that schools might drop the course.
A native of Chicago, naturalized citizen of Cincinnati and resident of Columbus, Alison attended Earlham College and the Ohio State University. She has equal passion for Midwest history, hockey and Slavic poetry.