One of the parties to this chain has made me aware of the Standards of
Learning Currently in Effect for Virginia Public Schools (apparently known as
the "SOL").  The curriculum for the Civil War and Reconstruction period is
described as follows:

Civil War and Reconstruction: 1860 to 1877
    The student will demonstrate knowledge of the Civil War and
Reconstruction Era and its importance as a major turning point in American
history by:
    a)  identifying the major events and the roles of key leaders of the
Civil War Era, with emphasis on Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Robert B.
Lee, and           Frederick Douglass;
    b)  analyzing the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation and the
principles outlined in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address;
    c)  examining the political, economic, and social impact of the war and
Reconstruction, including the adoption of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
to             the Constitution of the United States.

     Was Frederick Douglass a "key leader" of the "Civil War Era", as opposed
to, say, Jefferson Davis, who justifies "emphasis", or is this just another
example of political nincompoopism?  Am I missing something here?

JDS






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