You Won't Believe What We Found in Another ‘Widely Adopted’ High School Textbook

A South Carolina high school, and possibly many others, are reportedly using a different history textbook that also contains a highly questionable interpretation of the Second Amendment.

Additionally, the publisher of a separate controversial advanced placement history textbook, which acts as a study guide for the advanced placement U.S. history exam and seems to diminish the Second Amendment, is directly linked to Common Core standards, TheBlaze has learned.

Second book

It appears that the poor interpretation of the Second Amendment isn't limited to the AP history book first covered by TheBlaze on Monday.

TheBlaze has learned that a high school in Simpsonville, S.C., is supposedly using another textbook that includes a disputable definition of the Second Amendment.

"The Second and Third Amendments -- grant citizens the right to bear arms as members of a militia of citizen-soldiers and prevent the government from housing troops in private homes in peacetime," the book's summary reads. In a separate box on the same page it paraphrases the amendment as "the right to bear arms," not the right to "keep" and bear arms.

According to photos posted on Facebook, the history book is titled, "The Americans," and is reportedly being used at Hillcrest High School.

The American Textbook Council (ATC) says "The Americans" textbook is considered to be a "widely adopted history textbook" in the United States for "general-level eleventh grade classrooms."

(Facebook screen shot)

(Facebook screen shot)

You might also notice that the Second and Third Amendments are strangely grouped together in a confusing way. The wording could easily be misconstrued as to mean the right to bear arms is linked to preventing the government from housing troops during peacetime, which is not the case.

It should also be noted that the Third Amendment deals not only with peacetime, but wartime as well. But the book doesn't mention that.

"No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law," the Amendment reads.

When contacted by TheBlaze regarding the textbook and its content, Hillcrest High Vice Principal Ken Ashworth said he would have to call "right back." When we called back hours later, Ashworth said he would not be able to provide a response.

Common Core

The first book, "United States History: Preparing for the Advanced Placement Examination,” not only contains a controversial summary of the Second Amendment, but it also compares the "American mobs" who fought in the Revolutionary War to the "guerrilla bans that fought in such countries as Cuba in the 1950s and Vietnam in 1960s and points out that the Boston Tea Party was "far too radical" for some.

Perfection Learning, which bought out the original publisher of the book, AMSCO, makes no effort to hide its connection to the controversial Common Core Standards. A quick review of its website reveals a "Common Core Solutions Center" and more.

(PerfectionLearning.com)

"Founded by two educators in 1926, Perfection Learning provides high-quality, innovative curriculum solutions to K-12 schools across the country and internationally. All of the major programs support the Common Core State Standards," the site's "About Us" page reads. "Innovative literature programs provide cost-effective solutions for teaching critical thinking skills and incorporating the new demands of the Common Core State Standards."

(PerfectionLearning.com)

Listed under the publisher's "specialties" is "Common Core trade book collections." Multiple attempts to contact Perfection Learning have been unsuccessful.

As previously reported by TheBlaze, the history book in question defines the Second Amendment as limited to state militia. "The people have the right to keep and bear arms in a state militia," the summary definition reads.

Readers have submitted tips to TheBlaze claiming the book is also being used in several additional schools and districts. In addition to the schools and districts we've previously disclosed (here), the text is reportedly also being utilized at the Jefferson County School District in Clay, Ala., and at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, N.C., according to parents who reached out to TheBlaze.

Andrew Kraft, social studies program manager at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, told TheBlaze that the district's official history book is "The Enduring Vision." However, he said it appears that the history teacher at West Forsyth High recommended the AP history book as a supplemental resource, but it is not required reading.

Kraft would not discuss the district's view on the definition of the Second Amendment found in the book.

Messages left with the Jefferson County School District in Alabama were not immediately returned.

This story has been updated.

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