The problem with spring cleaning in April is that it is difficult to work up a good cleaning head of steam when it's hailing outside. Read more...

Colin Lee Edenso, 63, died Friday, May 2, 2008, in Anchorage, following a brief illness. He was born June 13,1944, in Ketchikan, and lived all his life in Alaska.

Rebecca Helen Stokes, 40, died May 3, 2008, in Kiowa, Okla. Born Rebecca Helen Searle in Kelso, Wash., on Jan. 14, 1968, she attended Stella Mayfield school in Elgin, Ore., and Schoenbar Middle School in Ketchikan, where she lived from 1981 to 1986.

Marguerite C. "Peg" Jacobson, 89, died April 17, 2008, in Ketchikan.

Clifford "Chegan" John Durgan, 82, died April 20, 2008, in Sitka.

Alaska history is fascinating.

And no Alaska student should graduate without delving into it in the classroom.

What they learn from Alaska's past will ground them for venturing into the state's future and for being good stewards of the Last Frontier.

It's helpful to know what's been done in order to go beyond that and improve on what is possible.

All too often, young folks come up with an idea they believe to be original. If they had studied history, they would know it's already been tried by their parents, their grandparents, their great grandparents or someone else's ancestor. And they'd know not to waste time redoing the past.

For those of us in the newspaper industry, Alaska's history begins with the lengths that pioneer newsmen went to publish their papers. During Gold Rush days, they (more precisely their pack animals) would haul printing presses up the trails to camps, where they would print and distribute news pages to miners. Definitely, in this case, history won't repeat itself, thanks to the advances in technology.

But to read about newspapering or the advent of any industry or individual in Alaska is valuable to students. Each has its own story, and no story is the same.

Our history is filled with adventure, cultural diversity, exploration and development. It has its characters, heroes and villans. There are lessons to be learned and tales to treasure.

Schools and teachers can make it come alive for Alaska's students.

And the state will remind them each year. Gov. Sarah Palin today will sign a bill that establishes the first week of March as Alaska History Week.