Joy Hakim

Author Joy Hakim (born 1931) is a graduate of Rutland High School Rutland, Vermont. She has earned a Bachelor's Degree from Smith College and a Master's Degree and honorary doctorate from Goucher College. [http://www.joyhakim.com/pressusatoday2004.html Joy Hakim Site - Press Release] ] She was a schoolteacher in Syracuse, NY, Omaha, Nebraska, and Virginia Beach, VA and an assistant editor of McGraw-Hill's World News (foreign news service), a reporter for the Ledger-Star in Norfolk, VA and, in 1978, an editorial writer for the "Virginian-Pilot" in Norfolk, Virginia.

Her first published work was the well-received, eleven-volume, "A History of US", from Oxford University Press. First published in 1993, it is a "narrative history" intended for young readers and is now in a third edition. She is also the author of "The Story of Science", published by the Smithsonian Institution. The first volume, "Aristotle Leads the Way," was published in 2004, "Newton at the Center," was published in 2005, and Einstein Adds a New Dimension in 2007. One of her books, "", was turned into a 16-part PBS series narrated by Katie Couric, and is available on video. A coordinated website is: www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus.

Hakim's books have earned her the first James A. Michener Award for Writing by the National Council for Social Studies, [http://www.joyhakim.com/pressusatoday2004.html Joy Hakim Site - Press Release] ] two Parents' Choice awards [ [http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr235.shtml Education World] ] , and good reviews from children, teachers and historians. David McCullough, in testimony before the Senate Education Committee, called the series "superb." Michael Dirda, in the Washington Post, said, "A History of US merits every accolade, starting with the most personal: I couldn't put it down." However, Hakim has faced some criticism, generally from conservativesFact|date=June 2007, for being "too multicultural"Fact|date=June 2007, too hard on conservative presidents and not critical enough of liberal administrationsFact|date=June 2007. The series "A History of US" has been adopted for use in the California public school system. [http://www.textbookleague.org/121hakm.htm Textbook League] ] It is also used in the K12 Virtual/Home School curriculum [http://www.k12.com/curriculum_and_products/history_main/american_history_before_1865/ K12 Website] ] . The Story of Science has been adopted in Portland, OR, and other schools.

References

External links

* [http://www.joyhakim.com/ Joy Hakim - official site]
* [http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/ PBS "Freedom: A History of US" - official site]
* [http://gos.sbc.edu/h/hakim.html Remarks by Joy Hakim upon receipt of James A. Michener Award]
* [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?userid=vi564QHB3r&cid=1009278#bio Biography, from Barnes and Noble]
* [http://www.textbookleague.org/111joy.htm 'Multi-Culti Joy', by William J. Bennetta] - criticism of Joy Hakim