Time - USA (2022-01-31)

12 TIME January 31/February 7, 2022

GOOD QUESTION

Why aren’t American children learning

about the Reconstruction era?

RECONSTRUCTION, THE PERIOD OF
political and social progress in the 12 years
after the American Civil War, can help put
into context many of the country’s most
seminal recent events, from the Jan. 6
insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to the police
killing of George Floyd. But despite the
era’s timeliness, many students in public
schools will not get a full education on
Reconstruction until they get to college.
Whether a topic appears in state stan-
dards determines how much it’s taught in
K-12 schools. And in social- studies stan-
dards for 45 out of 50 states and the District
of Columbia, discussion of Reconstruction
is “partial” or “nonexistent,” according to a
new report produced by the education non-
profi t Zinn Education Project. The report’s
authors say they are concerned that Ameri-
can children will grow up uninformed
about a critical period of history—one that
helps explain why full racial equality re-
mains unfulfi lled today.
While many states expected students to
know why Reconstruction failed, the report
found less of a focus on the era’s successes,

which included work toward full citizen-

ship for Black Americans. The researchers

also found that standards tended to focus

on events at the federal level, at the expense

of highlighting stories of Black Americans’

resilience, such as the building of mutual-

aid organizations and church communities.

In interviews, educators said they had

barely learned about the period themselves

and would need more professional develop-

ment to feel comfortable with the material.

Many were also concerned that the recent

spate of state laws prohibiting the teaching

of “divisive concepts” would limit instruc-

tion on the history of racism in America.

Jesse Hagopian, a high school teacher

and Zinn Education Project staff er who

helped develop the report, says the teach-

ing of Black progress during Reconstruc-

tion is key to imagining a more equitable

future. “If children don’t grow up learning

the incredible strides forward that were

made in that time period, then it’s hard to

imagine freedom today,” Hagopian says.

“That’s what I think we lose when we don’t

teach it properly.” —OLIVIA B. WAXMAN

NEWS TICKER

Militia leader

arrested over arrested over

Jan. 6 riotsJan. 6 riots

The FBI on Jan. 13 The FBI on Jan. 

arrested Stewart arrested Stewart

Rhodes, Rhodes, founder of the

far-right group Oath

Keepers, along with 10

other people, charging other people, charging

them with seditious them with seditious

conspiracy for allegedly conspiracy for allegedly

plotting to attack the plotting to attack the

U.S. Capitol following U.S. Capitol following

President Joe Biden’s President Joe Biden’s

election, and impede election, and impede

the certifi cation of the certifi cation of

electoral votes.electoral votes.

First same-sex

couple adopt couple adopt

in Taiwin Taiwanan

Two married men Two married men

became the became the fi rst same-

sex couple in Taiwan

to legally adopt a child

neither is related to

on Jan. 13. Taiwan on Jan. 13. Taiwan

legalized same-sex legalized same-sex

marriage in 2019, marriage in 2019,

but LGBT couples but LGBT couples

were prevented from were prevented from

applying for adoption applying for adoption

rights together until a rights together until a

Dec. 25 court ruling Dec. 25 court ruling

that activists hope will that activists hope will

spur broader change.spur broader change.

U.S. rolls out

free COVIDfree COVID-19 -

tests, mtests, masksasks

Amid a huge surge Amid a huge surge

in COVID-19 cases, in COVID-19 cases,

Americans can, as Americans can, as

of Jan. 18, of Jan. 18, request

free at-home rapid

tests online—four per

household; 400 million

N95 masks will also N95 masks will also

be made available. The be made available. The

Biden Administration Biden Administration

offered the mass offered the mass

distribution as the distribution as the

U.S. Supreme Court U.S. Supreme Court

on Jan. 13 rejected a on Jan. 13 rejected a

vaccine mandate for vaccine mandate for

large employers.large employers.

WORLD

Grand Slam

shutdown

for Novak

Djokovic

The Australian
Open began
Jan. 17 without
Novak Djokovic.
But the pre-
tournament
back-and-forth
over whether the
world men’s No. 
would be allowed
into Australia
amid COVID-
travel restrictions
played out like a
marathon match.
—Amy Gunia

THE BRIEF NEWS

Dec. 16, 2021

Djokovic tests

positive for positive for

COVID-19—which he COVID-19—which he

later says allows him later says allows him

to enter Australia to enter Australia

without vaccinationwithout vaccination

Jan. 14

Australia’s

Immigration Immigration

Minister cancels Minister cancels

Djokovic’s visaDjokovic’s visa

Jan. 4, 2022

Djokovic says he’s

received a travel received a travel

visa with vaccine visa with vaccine

“exemption “exemption

permission”permission”

Jan. 10

Citing a legal

technicality, a judge technicality, a judge

rules Djokovic rules Djokovic

should be released should be released

and allowed to enter and allowed to enter

the countrythe country

June 2022

But Wimbledon may

still be in the cards: still be in the cards:

current U.K. rules current U.K. rules

rely on negative rely on negative

tests and/or tests and/or

quarantine periods quarantine periods

Jan. 16

Djokovic is

deported after deported after

an appeals court an appeals court

upholds the upholds the

government’s government’s

decisiondecision

Jan. 5

In Melbourne,

border agents border agents

question the valid-question the valid-

ity of Djokovic’s ity of Djokovic’s

visa application visa application

and detain himand detain him

May 2022

His participation

in the French Open in the French Open

is now unclear; is now unclear;

France said Jan. 17 France said Jan. 

that vaccination will that vaccination will

likely be compulsory likely be compulsory

for playersfor players

JAMES ROSS—EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK