GARDEN GROVE : Instructor Donates Local History Books
“The Orange County Experience,” a history of the county written by Fullerton College instructor Louis C. Reichman, has become part of the curriculum of the Garden Grove Unified School District.
Reichman donated 250 copies of his 232-page book to the district, making it possible for educators to comply with a state mandate that all third graders learn local and regional history, school officials said.
The state requires the study of local history, but there had been no appropriate text, according to district facilitator Ginger Mack.
However, by using Reichman’s book as a foundation, the district is able to prepare a curriculum for instructors to teach the class. Mack said about 150 teachers will use Reichman’s book for the next several years.
A county resident since 1962, Reichman has taught U.S. history, California history and American government at Fullerton College for 26 years.
He began writing the book in 1982 and finished it in 1987, with the assistance of Gary Cardinale, a former part-time history teacher at Fullerton College and a university instructor of California and Orange County history.
The book chronicles the people and eras in the county, from the time of the Indians, missions and ranchos up to today, according to a spokesman.
As a token of its appreciation, the Garden Grove Unified School District contributed $200 to the Fullerton College History Education Fund.
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