In the news this week, a new education bill has been introduced in Mississippi concerning partisanship in the classroom, noted historian Peter Novick has passed away, and the archivist of the United States has appointed a new director of presidential libraries. Then, find links to articles on Dan Cohen and the Center for History and New Media, e-books and distraction, teaching students to “do history,” and comprehensive exams. Finally, read about how the Miller Center at UVA is putting the presidential campaign in historical context, find lesson plans for Women’s History month, and, just for fun, check out the history of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster.

News

• Mississippi House Bill to Ban “Partisan Agenda” from History Classrooms
  A Mississippi education bill seeks to ban “any partisan agenda or philosophy” from history classrooms. Many in government and education have concerns, and the AHA’s Deputy Director Robert B. Townsend weighs in, explaining, “most history teachers have so much material to cover that they don’t have time to push a partisan agenda on their students.”
• Peter Novick, celebrated scholar of history, 1934–2012
  The University of Chicago reports that noted historian Peter Novick passed away last month at the age of 77.
• Archivist of the United States Appoints New Director of Presidential Libraries
  David S. Ferriero, archivist of the United States, has appointed Susan K. Donius as the director of the Office of Presidential Libraries, to “direct and coordinate the Presidential Library system.”

Technology

• A Digital Humanist Puts New Tools in the Hands of Scholars
  The Chronicle of Higher Education profiles Dan Cohen and his work at the Center for History and New Media.
• Finding Your Book Interrupted…By the Tablet You Read It On
  The New York Times looks into the downside of reading an e-book on an iPad or tablet PC: easy access to distractions from reading.

Teaching

• Doing History
  The new College & Research Libraries News describes an exciting new collaborative project between the History Department at St. John’s University and the New York Public Library to teach students how to “do history.”
• The Comprehensive Exam: Make It Relevant
  The Chronicle posted an article on the (enormous) topic of making comprehensive exams relevant and a lively discussion ensued in the comments.

Resources

• Riding the Tiger: The Presidential Election in Context
  A new blog from the Miller Center at the University of Virginia is following the 2012 presidential race “through the lens of history.” Drawing from digital historical resources from the center’s collections, this blog will put the current presidential campaign in the context of history. See also the Chronicle’s Wired Campus article about the new blog.
• Women’s History Month
  EDSITEment has put together a collection of links to lesson plans and other resources for teaching and learning about Women’s History Month.

Fun

• The History of “Keep Calm and Carry On”
  You may have seen the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster (or its many renditions) around the Internet, now learn its history.

Contributors: Elisabeth Grant, Vernon Horn, Allen Mikaelian, and Robert B. Townsend.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.