LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: AMERICAN LEGION POST QUESTIONS UNIVERSITY CURRICULUM

To the Editor:

American Legion Post #63 of Cape Girardeau, noting the Southeast Missourian news report of January 30, expresses its concern and is disturbed by the lack of American history requirements at Southeast Missouri State University.

The American Legion believes it is very important for young people to know our country's history. The freedoms and values we have did not come about by accident. Many people worked hard, and many suffered and even made the supreme sacrifice for what we have today.

Recently, the University has restricted American History to history majors and minors and offers only one class per semester. That means nearly all of the 8,000+ students are officially prohibited from taking these basic history classes.

Apparently, students can choose from a "smorgasbord" of classes, as the newspaper reported, and have choices of such courses as African, Chinese, Islamic civilization, etc., but those courses are no substitute for American History. Students can even choose courses in "human sexuality" and "sex/aggression" but no American History!

We recognize that students can elect to take a course in American civilization which probably contains a smattering of American History, but that is not a standard, dedicated history course. It would be instructive if the Southeast Missourian would print a list of the aforementioned "smorgasbord" and which of those classes are recognized for credit at the University of Missouri and other major universities.

The state law requiring the teaching of regular courses in United States and Missouri constitutions, as well as American History, expresses the will of the people who pay for the University and we maintain that neither the letter nor the spirit of the law should be ignored merely because there are no enforcement penalties for bending or breaking it.

Foreign students come here to learn about America, often at great expense to their families or sponsors like Rotary International. In order to foster and promote better understanding between nations, we believe that our foreign guests ought to be encouraged to study our history and values.

American Legion Post #63 commends the history professors who expressed their concern in the Southeast Missourian news article and hopes that the university president and the Board of Regents will seriously and favorabley consider their views.

CHARLES E. WOODFORD

Chairman, Americanism Committee

The American Legion Post No. 63