Stanwood sisters Amy and Audrey Christianson have matching blue T-shirts that say “History Is Not For Wimps.” For them, a better slogan might be “History Is For Winners.”
In the recent National History Day competition at the University of Maryland, Amy, 18, and Audrey, 16, were big winners indeed.
With a project examining spotted owl protection and timber industry interests, the pair won a gold medal in National History Day’s senior group exhibit category. The contest starts with hundreds of thousands of entrants. Competitors go to regional and state events before the national event.
Not only did their gold medal bring a $1,000 prize, but Amy Christianson grabbed National History Day’s gold ring. She won the David van Tassel Scholarship, the contest’s top prize. It’s a four-year, all- expenses-paid scholarship to study at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
The daughters of Elizabeth and Mark Christianson, both teens have been home-schooled. Amy is also a Running Start student at Skagit Valley College.
National History Day — this year’s finals were June 15-19 — started small. History professors at Case Western Reserve held a contest in 1974 to push the idea that history is fun. The contest grew into a scholarship program, and by 1992 the National History Day organization had moved to Washington, D.C. Among the sponsors are The History Channel and the Public Broadcasting Service.
“It’s quite amazing,” Amy Christianson said of the scholarship. She applied for it almost as practice for next year, and plans to wait at least a year before going to Case Western Reserve.
“I’m family-oriented, so it’s going to be hard to leave,” she said, adding that until now she expected to attend the University of Washington. The UW has a museology program, and Amy hopes to work in the museum field.
As part of National History Day, the sisters’ project was among five to be displayed for a day at the Smithsonian Institution Archives. Two years ago, Audrey won a gold medal in the event’s junior category with a Galileo exhibit.
Amy credits their parents for fostering an interest not only in history, but in the arts. Both girls dance at Northwest Ballet School in Bellingham. Audrey plays violin and Amy plays piano in the Skagit Symphony’s youth program. Their 12-year-old brother, Andrew, is also an accomplished musician.
Elizabeth Christianson has been her children’s teacher. With elementary teaching credentials, she’s also qualified to teach high school German and physical education. Mark Christianson, a farmer who runs a seed business, encourages education through his own interests.
“My dad is a huge history buff. He’s very well read, and I’ve kind of taken to that,” Amy said.
For the spotted owl project, the family traveled through Oregon and northern California, talking with experts and seeing the redwoods. The girls interviewed Oregon biologist Eric Foresman and other experts for the exhibit, titled “The Spotted Owl: The Conflict That Caused Life-Changing Compromise.”
In a time when scores on the Washington Assessment of Student Learning measure fitness for high school graduation, perhaps there’s a lesson to be learned from the Christiansons.
“I don’t agree with the WASL. It doesn’t measure a person,” said Amy Christianson, who never took the test.
Her teacher-mom takes a real-life approach. “A lot of home-schoolers are very structured,” Elizabeth Christianson said. “My kids have taken an interest in different things at different times, and we run with it.”
That doesn’t mean they skip math. Amy has taken a series of math classes at Skagit Valley College.
History is one subject highlighted in the efforts of a new organization, Common Core. Founded earlier this year, the group of teachers, scholars and backers of education reform has voiced concern that in the push for basic skills and proficiency testing, curriculum in history, literature, culture and art is being shortchanged.
Common Core recently reported that in a survey of more than 1,000 17-year-olds, nearly one-quarter could not identify Adolf Hitler, and fewer than half could place the Civil War in the correct half-century. The group’s aim is to maintain a broad-based education despite the basic-skills focus in place since the federal No Child Left Behind law was enacted in 2002.
Friday afternoon, Audrey Christianson wasn’t available to talk. She runs a strawberry and raspberry stand. “That’s math,” her sister said.
With a full ride to college and a love of learning, Amy Christianson wasn’t pushed by high-stakes tests.
“It’s what we’re inspired to do,” she said. “Our mom encouraged us to find our own strengths — what we like.”
Columnist Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460 or muhlstein@heraldnet.com.
History contest
National History Day sponsors a national contest for students in sixth through 12th grades and offers programs for history teachers. Information: www.nationalhistoryday.org.
Common Core is an organization of education leaders with the goal of maintaining the teaching of history, art and other subjects despite today’s emphasis on basic skills and testing. Information: www.commoncore.org.
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