Education Plan
American History Without Revisionism
Teaching the full story of America — from primary sources, not political agendas.
History as It Actually Happened
At Garfield County School Of Innovation, we believe students deserve to encounter American history through the words and records of the people who lived it — not through a filtered, agenda-driven retelling. Our American History curriculum is built on primary sources: founding documents, letters, speeches, court records, and firsthand accounts that let students draw their own conclusions.
We teach the full arc of American history — the triumphs and the failures, the ideals and the contradictions — with honesty and intellectual rigor. Students learn to read critically, evaluate evidence, and think historically. That is the foundation of genuine civic literacy. If we want young Americans to defend freedom, they must first understand it. If we want them to protect our Constitution, they must know why it matters. If we want them to take pride in America, we must teach them the extraordinary history that made America possible. Protecting that history — and passing it faithfully to the next generation — is not merely an educational responsibility. It is our patriotic duty. GCSI will restore Western civilization, America’s founding principles, and the full context of our nation’s exceptional story to our classrooms. It is vital that future generations will understand the civilization and nation they are tasked with preserving for their posterity.
Study of Totalitarian Regimes
Students will be REQUIRED to learn what communist regimes actually did to millions of people.
Beginning with the 2027–28 school year, GCSI standards expand communism instruction for students in grades 6 through 12.
Students will study the Soviet system, Mao’s China, the Great Leap Forward, Castro’s Cuba, communist movements in Latin America, political repression, mass killings, and the conditions that allowed communist revolutions to take hold.
Students should not graduate knowing modern slogans about socialism and communism while knowing nothing about the consequences. If schools are going to teach political history, they should teach the whole history — including the promises, the consequences, and the people who suffered under those regimes.
Consistent with the comprehensive K–12 standards adopted in Florida under legislation (SB 1264) signed by Governor Ron DeSantis — which require students to study the history, practices, and human consequences of communist regimes — GCSI’s curriculum will address:
- The history of major communist regimes, including the Soviet Union, the Chinese Communist Revolution, and the regimes in Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela
- How socialist systems have transitioned into full communist control
- Documented patterns of systemic poverty, starvation, suppressed freedoms, political repression, and the large-scale loss of life associated with these regimes in the twentieth century
- The history of communist movements and tactics within the United States, placed in proper historical context
- The contrast between totalitarian systems and free societies grounded in constitutional limits on power, individual rights, and the rule of law
By grounding both American history and the study of totalitarian regimes in primary sources and documented historical evidence, GCSI aims to equip students with the knowledge and habits of mind needed to recognize, resist, and refute ideologies that have caused immeasurable human suffering.
Our Approach to History
Primary Sources First
Students read the actual documents — the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, Lincoln’s letters, Supreme Court opinions, and more. We go to the source, not the summary.
No Revisionism
We do not rewrite history to fit contemporary political narratives. We teach what happened, why it happened, and what it meant to the people who lived through it.
Critical Thinking Over Indoctrination
Students are taught to ask questions, weigh evidence, and form their own conclusions. History class is a place for intellectual development, not political formation.
The Full Story
We teach American history completely — including difficult chapters. Honest history requires acknowledging both the greatness of American ideals and the moments when the nation fell short of them.
Civic Literacy
Understanding how the United States was founded, how its government works, and how its laws evolved is essential preparation for citizenship. Our students graduate knowing their rights and their history.
Parent Transparency
Curriculum materials are available to parents. We believe families have the right to know what their children are being taught and to engage in that learning alongside them.
What Students Study
Founding Era
The Declaration of Independence, Constitutional Convention, Bill of Rights, and the Federalist Papers
Westward Expansion
Manifest Destiny, the frontier experience, Native American history, and the Mexican-American War
Civil War and Reconstruction
Causes, conduct, and consequences of the Civil War; Reconstruction amendments and their legacy
Industrial America
The Gilded Age, labor movements, immigration, and the rise of American industry
20th Century America
World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, the Cold War, and the Civil Rights Movement
Modern America
Post-Cold War America, the digital age, and the ongoing story of American democracy