Oregon Public Broadcasting

Public school teachers in Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath counties will be getting a lesson in American history. The course work comes through a $1 million grant for teacher training.

Fourth through 12th grade teachers will attend workshops led by university professors on subjects like the constitution and the great depression. And they'll visit Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Washington DC.

Joe Petersen is managing the grant for the district.

Joe Petersen: "Especially elementary teachers often have only had one course. And often it's like a one quarter course in American history. So we have people who you know need more content knowledge in the field."

Petersen says teachers will be tested on what they learn and given summer reading. And later they'll be asked to show that their students' performance on history tests is improving.