Stokely Carmichael, Modjeska Simkins, T. R. M. Howard, Mary McLeod Bethune, Septima Clark. These are only a few important black leaders many students don’t learn about in school.

Although the initial intention of Black History Month was good, it’s time to incorporate black history into the curriculum in all classes rather than condense a group’s history into one month.

According to the NAACP, the idea for Black History Month came from Carter G. Woodson when he declared the second week of February as Negro History Week. He felt black Americans needed to know their own history to successfully participate and thrive in society.

This week was expanded into a month when Gerald R. Ford declared February Black History Month in 1976.

Almost 40 years later we have done little to expand on the teaching of black history.

Schools teach little about the accomplishments and contributions of black Americans. Many specific curriculum benchmarks center around the slave trade and are only found in history requirements.

Besides the slave trade, schools often center black history teaching around the civil rights movement.

However, a 2014 report from the Southern Poverty Law Center shows schools are failing at covering even that.

Part of the report evaluates civil rights coverage as a state standard. Each state is given a percentage grade on a weighted scale and then assigned a letter grade to the corresponding percentages.

An A on this scale requires a score of 80 percent or up, which only three states have achieved. Additionally, 20 states received a failing grade of less than 20 percent. Minnesota barely passed with a score of only 26 percent, giving it a D.

“These states should significantly revise their standards and resources so students have a satisfactory and comprehensive picture of the civil rights movement. In general, these states are missing several key areas, covering the movement incidentally or haphazardly.” This advice is offered by the Southern Poverty Law Center to any state that receives a D.

Students should talk to their teachers to push for a wider representation in the teaching of American and world history in all their classes.

Teachers need to explore different ways of incorporating black history into lesson plans year-long and administration and School Board need to offer support for such efforts.