From museum to classroom: What you need to know about the White House's push for ‘patriotic education' through the Smithsonian

The White House has launched a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution's content, signalling a significant shift that could affect classrooms across the US. The review aims to align the Smithsonian's educational materials with President Trump's vision of American history, emphasising what the administration calls "American exceptionalism" and seeking to remove "divisive or partisan narratives," as reported by the Associated Press.Teachers like Katharina Matro, a high school history instructor in Bethesda, Maryland, often rely on Smithsonian resources for lesson planning due to their trusted accuracy and availability. However, the White House's review has raised concerns among educators about the future reliability and neutrality of these materials. "We don't want a partisan history," Matro said, "we want the history that's produced by real historians," as quoted by the Associated Press.White House review could reshape educational materials nationwideThe Smithsonian Institution is a major source of primary documents, artefacts, and curated content used by history teachers throughout the US. More than 80% of history teachers report using free resources from federal museums and archives, including the Smithsonian, according to a survey by the American Historical Association.The White House's letter to the Smithsonian stated that the review will assess the "tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals" of all public-facing content.

This initiative is part of a broader push to ensure educational materials reflect patriotic values and celebrate the country's founding principles.As part of this agenda, the US Department of Education recently partnered with PragerU, a conservative non-profit, to launch the White House's Founders Museum in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The museum offers biographies and videos about the signers of the Declaration of Independence, aiming to present them in a positive light.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said in a PragerU video introducing the project, "Real patriotic education means that just as our founders loved and honoured America, so we should honour them," as reported by the Associated Press.Teachers rely on Smithsonian to fill gaps in history educationMany educators use Smithsonian materials because they provide vetted, reliable information, which is increasingly important as many school textbooks become outdated.

Brendan Gillis, director of teaching and learning at the American Historical Association, explained that Smithsonian resources have been "one of the most influential and profoundly important ways" the federal government has supported social studies education in recent decades, as quoted by the Associated Press.The Smithsonian has long included education as part of its mission, but the development of specific classroom materials became more widespread after World War II.

The institution offers a variety of teaching tools, including worksheets, videos, and professional development workshops for teachers.Concerns over sanitised history and exclusion of diverse voicesCritics argue that the White House's review could lead to a more sanitized version of American history, downplaying difficult or controversial topics. Tina Ellsworth, president of the National Council for the Social Studies, said teachers are wary of using partisan sources in their lessons, as quoted by the Associated Press.Russell Jeung, an Asian-American studies professor and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, participated in a Smithsonian video series on racism and discrimination. He expressed concern that such projects may be shelved under the new review. "I think the story will be told," Jeung said, "but the tragedy again and the loss is that we won't get the national recognition that we deserve," as quoted by the Associated Press.Potential impact on students and future educatorsSocial studies teacher Michael Heiman of Juneau, Alaska, noted that Smithsonian exhibits have traditionally been culturally inclusive.

He fears that if this changes, students from underrepresented groups may be discouraged from engaging with history or pursuing careers in museum sciences. "We are further quieting voices that are important to our country," Heiman said, as quoted by the Associated Press.William Walker, a professor at the State University of New York, Oneonta, said the Smithsonian's educational role has expanded over the years to become a crucial resource.

Yet, concerns grow that students' interest in working at the Smithsonian or in federal government roles has declined in recent years. History professor Sam Redman of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, observed that none of his students recently expressed such ambitions, calling it "a pressing concern," as reported by the Associated Press.Despite political pressures, professional groups say teachers will continue adapting to ensure history is taught with context and accuracy. Ellsworth said, "Education is always political, so we know that as social studies teachers, it's our job to navigate that terrain, which we do and we do well," as quoted by the Associated Press.