This position paper offers a review of the recent criticisms levelled against the products of the National History Standards committees and addresses those criticisms. The four issues of controversy suggested for consideration when examining the U.S. history or world history volumes include: (1) Who wrote these books? (2) Are the standards "politically correct"? (3) Are the standards grim and gloomy? and (4) Are the standards going to be the new official history? The paper suggests that much of the criticism is political in nature and predicts that educators will be the ultimate arbiters of the history standards books. As with any other curriculum materials, teachers will consult the guidelines, assess their value, draw from them what they find useful, adapt them to their lesson plans, and leave the rest aside. (EH)