Had a great discussion yesterday with our 16 yr. old son about American imperialism.

[Dappleganger]

He has a new AP history teacher this semester who's using Howard Zinn's books as required reading in class. Our son has loved history since he was just a little thang, but last semester admitted he was really tired of the constant RW-theme in his history classes of the USA being #1 at everything, etc. Finally he is able to learn from a teacher with a more balanced view (he's an older teacher, too). I've not seen our son excited to learn more about history in awhile. For the first time I feel our kids are getting a class-A education that extends beyond basic reading, writing and arithmetic.

[izquierdista]

1. Shhhhhh!

How long until right-wingers find out and make a stink?

[Bigmack]

2. Anybody who is teaching AP...

usually has enough "idiosyncratic credit" (read experience and reputation) to shut down most objections. Old hands know that if the teacher compares and contrasts two different sources of information, that covers the teacher's ass nicely, and if the kids are AP kids, they easily recognize bullshit when they see it.
Used Zinn... and others... myself, and the kids actually laughed out loud at the jingoistic, rightwing standard "textbooks".

[Warpy]

3. American history was the worst

and was all jingoistic pap used to create patriotic and obedient workers. I loved history, too, and read histories and biographies for kicks. Needless to say, I was not particularly popular with mainstream teachers since I'd constantly challenge the real rubbish in class.

I'd have adored any teacher who contrasted real information sources with the crap we were forced to parrot. Alas, one never appeared in American history.

[Bigmack]

4. I loved having people like you in class....

The little robot kids' heads would just explode when guys like you brought up some strange stuff. I could then assign for things like debates on the question. Lots of head scratching and troubled facial expressions.

I'm proud I made some kids uncomfortable... thanks to people like you.