FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Finally, Arkansas has a state history textbook of which teachers and students can be proud. The University of Arkansas Press has just published its fourth edition of their popular Arkansas History for Young People (hardback) by Shay E. Hopper, T. Harri Baker and Jane Browning. The state of Arkansas has recently adopted the book as an official textbook for Arkansas history classes in grades 7-12. Hopper, who teaches Arkansas history at Woodland Junior High in Fayetteville, was hired by the press in 2005 as a special consultant to revise the book.

    Hopper completely reworked, revised and rewrote the book based on her own classroom experiences and feedback from hundreds of fellow teachers from around the state. It was then carefully “workshopped” with 30 teachers representing 21 Arkansas counties. The previous edition was reviewed and evaluated for grade level suitability by four independent literacy coaches and the new edition was revised and rewritten according to their guidelines. The entire book was then submitted for content review by university scholars in history, geography, political science and economics.

There is much that is new to this edition that will make it more appealing to students. The book is now full color throughout, with a new format and many new features. “County Quest” provides information about the people and history of the 75 counties in Arkansas. “I Am an Arkansan” has fun and interesting feature profiles of some of the state’s notable residents. “A Day in the Life” transports the student back in time to a day when a historic or well-known event took place. “Did You Know?” features throughout the book provide unusual facts and stories about Arkansas events, places, oddities and tall tales.

For the new edition, Hopper and the press consulted and collaborated with partner organizations around the state, including the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism, the Arkansas History Commission, the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum, Central High School National Historic Site, University of Arkansas Special Collections and the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture. The book also has contributions from Gov. Mike Beebe, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, and U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor.

A brand new teacher’s wrap-around edition is also available. It provides teachers with the complete text of the student book itself while each page also includes lessons plans, additional unique facts and creative, hands-on activities that will be of great help to teachers preparing for their classes and for in-class discussions. Both the student text and wrap-around edition incorporate the state’s revised 2006 8^th grade history and social studies frameworks.

      Tom Dillard, president of the Arkansas History Education Coalition and head of Special Collections at the University of Arkansas Libraries, said “This textbook will play an important role in elevating the quality of Arkansas history education throughout the state. I congratulate all involved in this wonderful new resource.” As Governor Beebe urges students in his contribution to the book: “I hope that this is the beginning of a journey toward leadership for each of you and that you will become inspired by the people you will learn about in this book.”