Group Assails Schools on U.S. History

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- The story of America's heroes, accomplishments and ideals is getting surprisingly short shrift in a place of great influence: the nation's public schools.

That's the theme of a provocative report about U.S. civics and history education that is drawing praise from leaders and groups whose views span the ideological spectrum.

Produced by the nonpartisan Albert Shanker Institute and released Tuesday, "Education for Democracy" is the latest effort to try to strengthen the nation's grasp of its own past and present. Authors hope it will lead to curriculum changes and stir debate about social studies lessons as people reflect on the terrorist attacks of two years ago.

Based on studies of text books, research by authors and other reviews, the report contends students get a distorted account that their country is irredeemably flawed. Schools should offer a more positive tone but should avoid propaganda or patriotic drills, the report says.

more...

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-schools-democracy,0,6151722.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[maxanne]

1. don't let the kids find out

that the country is flawed for cryin out loud!!

In the book "Lies My Teacher Told Me" there's a chapter about what we learn about the founding of the country. The author's point was that George Washington is presented to us as a kind of Jesus like figure, with Betsey Ross as the Virgin Mary. I spit coffee through my nose when I read that.

[demdave]

2. They are looking for a balanced approach instead of only negative view

"It's important that students understand not only our flaws and failings, but also the degree to which the United States was really the first modern democracy and the degree to which it has inspired democrats around the world," Diamond said. "It's a call for balance; it's not a call for purging from the history books honest criticism of our failings."

[damnraddem]

14. But it IS NOT taught as only a negative view.

Here is a more-cogent statement from the article: "The report accompanies an earlier institute-sponsored study, which contended that history and civics are lost in the national emphasis on reading and math." What IS taught is not taught from a negative view; but not a lot is taught.

My son, a sophomore, is now taking an American history class. We are having him supplment his materials with 'A People's History of the U.S.' and 'A People's History of the American Revolution.' Why? Because we think that the materials he gets are not balanced enough -- they are too positive.

[RobinA]

16. Having Graduated

from college in 1980, I took an undergraduate history course about five years ago at the local community college. The book we used went out of its way to paint the U.S. in a negative light. Look, I came of age in the '60's and '70's. I've had courses in Vietnam. I'm not a flag waver. But I think there's more to be said about the space program than that it was a macho attempt to best the Soviet Union. I mean, I have no problem with them stating that this was a PART of it, but could they at least say one good thing about it? The history books (at the least one in my class) still don't get that things can be good and bad at the same time. It used to be we were all good, now we are all bad.

[mbperrin]

19. Wonder what books they're looking at?

When I was teaching US history two years ago, our text had exactly one Latino in it - Cesar Chavez in a little box! That was it! When the battle of the Alamo was mentioned, there was no mention even of the Mexican Army! But all the Texas heroes were named! (Somehow it all sounded very glamorous and guess it could have been - except: they were all dead!)

The 1954 Brown decision was only in the index, nowhere in the body of the book!

There's a whole lot more - but I didn't really even see any criticism in it - there wasn't even a mention of the casualties at Hiroshima or Nagasaki, just that we bombed two "cities"!

I do believe that we could step up a teeny bit more info, even if it makes it look like George Washington is not God!

[Emboldened Chimp]

3. Can't let the kiddies know

that this country was shaped by slavery and genocide. It might hurt their little feelings.

[LoneStarLiberal]

4. This Is A Damned Interesting Report

I've only read an abstract of it so far, but it really hits at a big ticket problem in our public schools that has been aggrevated by both conservatives and liberals over time.

Due to the influence of interest groups on local school issues, state school issues, and national school issues, our schools are all jacked up. Both liberal critics and conservative reactionaries are to blame for this and the Shanker report seems to back this up. In their zeal to air out grievances both real and imagined, both sides have brutalized the standards of public education. And as always, when the adults fight the kids suffer.

If you would like to take a frightening look inside part of this issue, I suggest Diane Ravitch's excellent book "The Language Police" that deals with school textbook and examination censorship.

[kainah]

10. It does look interesting, LoneStarLiberal

And, so long as it isn't written by Lynne Cheney, I'm willing to consider it. As a historian, I know how poorly the subject is taught. What is so hard in teaching history is choosing what to teach and what has to be skipped for time constraints. Hopefully, they will spend some energy focusing on the unsung heroes of this country who fought for positive change, even though it didn't always materialize. Let's hope they decide that a few of the surfeit of military leaders can be sacrificed in favor of the peacemakers and the social equity activists. What could be more hopeful, more emblematic of the American spirit, than the stories of incredible people like Dorothy Day or Jane Addams who lived modest lives in the shadows hoping to find a path of light for others?

[RobinA]

17. I Agree With Your Point Here

Textbooks have become a mush of both sides' sacred cows. Aren't there supposed to be adults in charge? Nobody can write a textbook that somehow manages not to be worshipping at ANYBODY'S altar?

[Solly Mack]

5. So they want a "Be Patient-We're flawed but making progress" brand

of history taught?

So, the book has to end on a happy note...even if that happy note hasn't been reached yet?

Maybe history books can end with " but there's still time.."

"it could be worse..", "but compared to...", "yeah, that was bad but look at this...", " even so, America is still the only near perfect place on earth..."????????

so somehow September 11, 2001 changes how history should be taught?

"In light of September 11, 2001, America's history will now be defined in terms of that event.. and on that note...yeah, we've got problems but look what 'they' did to us"

History with a dose of "but we're still the greatest"....it's the patriotic thing to do...

Uh, no..I'm not being entirely fair ...just being cynical until I know just where this will lead...

[Mikimouse]

6. May I ask

All of you who have responded here if you would be interested in starting a thread about higher education in general. If you are interested, I would like to start one. :hippie:

[prolesunited]

7. I think you should

There have been several interesting discussions on education lately in General Discussion. I promise I'll post on it if you do.

[Mikimouse]

9. Done

I posted it in GD. Thanks:hippie:

[Bandit]

8. Maybe they will tell us about Columbus Day

And how he "Discovered" America. American history sucks and definitely needs some tuning up.

[Sushi_lover]

11. "A People's History of the United States"

A positive tone can be found in Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States

It's possible to recognize the strength of our country without whitewashing it.

Without covering up the brutality of our history, we can still find courageous people who stood up to the tyrants in power. Someday, even the idiots who now vote Republican will identify with the courageous and not the tyrants.

[damnraddem]

12. More nonsense from the right.

U.S. history is already taught as hagiography -- the right would sanctify it more.

[Trek234]

13. Haha this is BS if I ever saw it

I'm in high school right now. Last year I had a republican history teacher that hit on Clinton, believed Saddam launched 9/11, told us everything Bush said was truth, etc etc etc.

I got in an argument with him one time when he said Saddam had used WMD on our troops. (this is just as the "war" started) What was the WMD when I asked? A skud missle.

We got to watch FOX news quite a lot too. Even if he was talking to us, FOX news was on in the corner muted.

This guy was NOTHING but America and it's current leadership is great. He talked about war ALL THE DAMN TIME. (personaly I think the curriculum is nothing but war in US history...) NEVER did he mention ANYTHING negative about US actions. Nor has any school book I have ever seen.

This year I have a similar teacher though for an elective. Again, he thinks Saddam was behind 9/11. This guys even more warped though. He was bitching about soldiers who got wounded coming home and taking government money instead of "getting a job".

This is not to say I have not had liberal teachers, but the right-wing seriously dominates.

[IndianaGreen]

15. The students are taught that America is always right

and that we have never done bad things to good people.

I don't know why this group feels that there isn't enough distortion in American history.

[RobinA]

18. Maybe

because our experience seems to be different from yours?