REGENTS WILLING TO ADDRESS CONCERN

Southeast Missouri State University regents say they are willing to discuss concerns raised by American Legion members that American history is being de-emphasized at the school.

But several regents said Tuesday that students are getting a sufficient dose of American history in the school's University Studies curriculum.

"Anytime there is an organization as powerful as the American Legion that has a question, it should be addressed and it will be addressed," said Regent Lynn Dempster of Sikeston.

"You have to realize that a lot of these men were willing to give up their lives for their country, and they feel like they have a vested interest in it," she said.

But she added, "I am satisfied they (students) are getting American history under the University Studies program."

She said the legion's concerns are "unfounded."

In a Feb. 15 letter to the regents, the chairman of the Cape Girardeau American Legion post's Americanism Committee, requested the board "restore American history to its lawful and rightful place in the university's curriculum."

But Charles Woodford, the Americanism Committee chairman, said Tuesday that he doesn't believe the letter will lead to any real rethinking of the curriculum.

"I have no confidence at all that they will do anything about it," said Woodford.

About 60 representatives of legion posts throughout Southeast Missouri voiced strong concern about the issue at an American Legion district meeting in Jackson last month.

In January, several of Southeast's history professors said they were concerned that it was possible for Southeast students to graduate without ever taking American history.

Southeast used to require students to take two American history courses, totaling five credit hours, in order to graduate.

But that requirement was scrapped when the general education curriculum was revamped and replaced with the University Studies program in the fall of 1988.

Southeast officials, however, have said all students are exposed to various aspects of American history in the school's University Studies or general education courses.

In addition, most students take a course called American Civilization as part of the University Studies program, Southeast officials have pointed out.

But American Legion members say that American Civilization is no substitute for the traditional American history course.

In his letter, Woodford said: "We believe that the effective elimination of American history requirements is in violation of both the spirit and the letter of the state law requiring the teaching of regular courses in American history."

Southeast officials have said the school is not violating state law, and state education officials have said the law is loosely written and provides for a lot of latitude.

In his letter, Woodford deplored the university's move to civilization courses. "In the name of multiculturalism, American history has been supplanted by elective courses in American, Chinese and Islamic `Civilizations.' These courses in our view are not suitable substitutes for dedicated American history courses."

Said Woodford, "We Americans have a magnificent and proud heritage and one worth preserving."

But he said, "While we have slept, the multiculturalists have insinuated themselves into positions of control and systematically set about to diminish -- if not entirely extinguish -- that heritage.

"That trend can and ought to be reversed," said Woodford.

"We doubt if the American Legion would have any objections at all if SEMO were a private, non-public funded institution; however, SEMO is funded by Missouri taxpayers and ought to be subservient to the will of the people," he said.

Woodford said Tuesday that he believes Southeast should "reflect the values of the people of Southeast Missouri."

"I have the feeling that the students here are being shortchanged," he added.

Woodford said liberals are fond of saying that war is too important to be left up to generals. "Sometimes, I feel that education is too important to be left up to educators," he observed.

Regent Mark Pelts of Kennett said he hasn't looked into the whole issue, but he does believe the regents should address it.

"I think my attitude is, if it is important for the American Legion to look at, it is important enough for the Board of Regents to look at," said Pelts.

Pelts, who majored in history at Southeast, said he likes "the notion of everybody having to take history."

But he said it would be unfair to impose a requirement simply because of a personal interest.

And he said the university operates today on the theory that college classes shouldn't be a "retake" of high school courses.

Pelts, however, said he believes it is important that the regents consider the whole issue.

"It would be silly for us to say that the only people that have good ideas are the faculty, administration or the Board of Regents," he said.

"Ninety percent of the things people (in the public) point out to me have a lot of common sense to it," said Pelts.

"We have an obligation to see that we are presenting a well rounded curriculum," said Regent Ann Dombrowski of Cape Girardeau.

But she maintained that the school does provide a sufficient dose of American history in its curriculum.

Regent Donald Dickerson of Cape Girardeau said he's willing to look at the issue. But he added, "I am not totally convinced it is incumbent on us or even desirable for us to necessarily dictate curriculum."

Dickerson said the real issue may have more to do with the names of courses than their content. "Sometimes we put names on things. The real test is not what we call it, but it's what it teaches."