South Dakota Schools Won’t Teach Genocide, Colonialism, Slavery

[Judi Lynn]

South Dakota Schools Won’t Teach Genocide, Colonialism, Slavery


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While Early U.S. History, which includes U.S. colonialism, slavery and women’s suffrage, is still an option, “they also now
have the option of avoiding it altogether." | Photo: AFP
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Published 30 September 2015

The move adds to the growing reports of institutionalized hurdles that make learning about the historical foundations of the U.S. more difficult.


High schools students in the U.S. state of South Dakota have the option as of next year of not learning about the historical foundations of their country, including colonial conquest, genocide and slavery.

Indian Country Today reported Wednesday that a group of 35 educators recommended and approved new benchmarks for the social science department late August that make it possible for high school students to choose one of three U.S. history courses as an academic requirement.

While Early U.S. History, which includes U.S. colonialism, slavery and women’s suffrage, is still an option, “they also now have the option of avoiding it altogether, which makes it a ‘non-standard standard’,” said Ben Jones, Dean of Arts and Sciences for Dakota State University in Madison, as told to the Argus Leader.

The move, which comes into effect the school year of 2016-2017, is allegedly intended to teach critical thinking and analytical skills, but according to history professor Michael Mullin, this fails to understand the importance of knowing history.

More:
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/South-Dakota-Schools-Wont-Teach-Genocide-Colonialism-Slavery-20150930-0032.html

[youceyec]

1. dear white people

Why so afraid of your past?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. Because they're the real savages.

[snappyturtle]

4. Think about it. This move, if used, removes the history of all.

[central scrutinizer]

9. Who controls the past, controls the future

Who controls the present, controls the past.

George Orwell, 1984

[LuvNewcastle]

2. Maybe some good teachers will ask their

students to use their critical thinking and analytical skills and write a paper about why learning early U.S. history isn't a requirement anymore. If they don't have the kids write a paper, I think that a good classroom discussion on the topic would be in order.

[daleanime]

5. Absolutely....

Nauseating.

[procon]

6. Alternative histories belong in a class on science fiction literature.

It must be part of some rightwing effort to whitewash and rewrite history. How man other states have they done this to?

[struggle4progress]

7. Well, to be honest, I didn't learn much history from my public school history classes

The Trail of Tears was probably one sentence somewhere in a textbook. US interventions abroad got little mention. Labor history was invisible. The late unpleasantness between the North and the South was taught as a clash of different economic systems.

[malthaussen]

8. The function of public schools is to raise good little conformists.

Well-adjusted biological units that will create wealth for the already wealthy (who don't use public schools anyway), vote the straight party ticket, and spend, spend, spend (although the theory has become a little fuzzy lately over where they are supposed to get the money to spend). As the paternalistic power structure feels its roots being gnawed by weasels, it will become more and more reactionary in an attempt to stay on top of the food chain.

And this is what comes of a culture where we are encouraged to "stop living in the past" and "move on." Because, you see, the powerful have no wish to allow the lessons of history influence the present and future -- so long as it is someone else who is the subject of the genocide, colonialism, and slavery.

-- Mal

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Excellent post, Mal. nt