Ian WhiteAmerican History Blank
December 18th 2010 12:37
Category: No Category
“You have to know the past to understand the present.”
Dr. Carl Sagan
The tragedy of our education system (one of the many) is that our children are constantly misinformed or not told at all about vital figures and events in world history. An overload of meaningless information has created a generation of ignorant, apathetic, conformists. There needs to be a massive overhaul in regards to school curriculum. Texas has moved to not teach about Thomas Jefferson, a decision made by their remarkably unqualified school board that includes a dentist and former college cheerleader.
They are the same guy.
Lincoln is praised, but his flaws are all but absent from texts. He and Jefferson owned slaves, plus the emancipation proclamation freed nobody, nor did it lead to stolen Africans being given rights as citizens or any form of compensation for the worst human rights violation in the history of mankind. Hundreds of millions of Africans died during that slave trade but school's almost romanticize it. Let the gory details be heard.
America still celebrates Columbus day. A day of honor for a man who not only never reached America, but wasn't even close to the first person there. He arrived on an island in the Bahamas, thinking it was India, then commenced the raping and pillaging of the natives. Yet we honor this man?
Kids are force fed the accomplishments of Thomas Edison, but they are overstated. For instance, he did not invent the light bulb. Edison was one the makers of an electric lamp that had no real practical use because it could not emit light for an extended period. It was the son of runaway slaves Lewis Latimer, who would draw the blueprints to Alexander Graham Bell's telephone, that used a revolutionary method of manufacturing carbon filaments that produced light for effectively extended periods. As a result of this invention, Latimer was asked by numerous countries, states, and cities — including Philadelphia — to write an instruction manual (which he did in 1890) and to supervise the installation of incandescent light plants.
There is a particular blind spot in history texts for minority contributions and the true scope of America's mile long record of inflicted tragedy. Perhaps if everyone knew how this country was founded, how it grew, the atrocities domestic and abroad, there would be far more understanding and progression in this society. A good place to start would be making the Autobiography of Malcolm X required reading starting in middle school. America is a melting pot of cultures but all school's focus on are altered and at times fabricated historical feats that exclude anybody with dark skin. Black history month is a shining example of the subtle racism of the bleeding heart liberals. It's ineffective, insulting, and condescending to take the shortest month of the year to gloss over household African American names in the most p.c. way imaginable. Other cultures don't get anything but passing reference.
Religion also needs to be properly taught. Kids shouldn't learn about it by being indoctrinated with whatever their parents believe in, they should be taught in an unbiased manner about the world's religions.
Accurately taught. Right Jesus?
With so much ignorance in this country, it's safe to say it can be traced back to households and classrooms. Parenting can't be totally fixed, but the education kids receive while they aren't home can be.
Dr. Carl Sagan
The tragedy of our education system (one of the many) is that our children are constantly misinformed or not told at all about vital figures and events in world history. An overload of meaningless information has created a generation of ignorant, apathetic, conformists. There needs to be a massive overhaul in regards to school curriculum. Texas has moved to not teach about Thomas Jefferson, a decision made by their remarkably unqualified school board that includes a dentist and former college cheerleader.
They are the same guy.
Lincoln is praised, but his flaws are all but absent from texts. He and Jefferson owned slaves, plus the emancipation proclamation freed nobody, nor did it lead to stolen Africans being given rights as citizens or any form of compensation for the worst human rights violation in the history of mankind. Hundreds of millions of Africans died during that slave trade but school's almost romanticize it. Let the gory details be heard.
America still celebrates Columbus day. A day of honor for a man who not only never reached America, but wasn't even close to the first person there. He arrived on an island in the Bahamas, thinking it was India, then commenced the raping and pillaging of the natives. Yet we honor this man?
Kids are force fed the accomplishments of Thomas Edison, but they are overstated. For instance, he did not invent the light bulb. Edison was one the makers of an electric lamp that had no real practical use because it could not emit light for an extended period. It was the son of runaway slaves Lewis Latimer, who would draw the blueprints to Alexander Graham Bell's telephone, that used a revolutionary method of manufacturing carbon filaments that produced light for effectively extended periods. As a result of this invention, Latimer was asked by numerous countries, states, and cities — including Philadelphia — to write an instruction manual (which he did in 1890) and to supervise the installation of incandescent light plants.
There is a particular blind spot in history texts for minority contributions and the true scope of America's mile long record of inflicted tragedy. Perhaps if everyone knew how this country was founded, how it grew, the atrocities domestic and abroad, there would be far more understanding and progression in this society. A good place to start would be making the Autobiography of Malcolm X required reading starting in middle school. America is a melting pot of cultures but all school's focus on are altered and at times fabricated historical feats that exclude anybody with dark skin. Black history month is a shining example of the subtle racism of the bleeding heart liberals. It's ineffective, insulting, and condescending to take the shortest month of the year to gloss over household African American names in the most p.c. way imaginable. Other cultures don't get anything but passing reference.
Religion also needs to be properly taught. Kids shouldn't learn about it by being indoctrinated with whatever their parents believe in, they should be taught in an unbiased manner about the world's religions.
Accurately taught. Right Jesus?
With so much ignorance in this country, it's safe to say it can be traced back to households and classrooms. Parenting can't be totally fixed, but the education kids receive while they aren't home can be.
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Comment by Norm
Consumption Malfunction
Equal and Opposite
Arses and Elbows
Footy Power
Even in our own lives, to know and understand our own personal history a bit better without resorting to lies and mythology is a handy tool. To be able to rule myself justly. Avoid strife.
If I was to get up in front of the class in my head and starting writing on the chalkboard I would probably start with my parents.
"Your parents declared themselves independent from their parents when they founded you in 1975. The delicate balance of peace your parents had negotiated erupted in civil war in 1979 which resulted in your parents becoming separate in 1980. One magnificent defeat followed another. You achieved autonomy when you turned 18. Your attempts to achieve independence were nothing short of vainglorious. The Great Depression. Complete collapse. You just seemed to fall off the map. God bless you. Salute the flag."
Then there's my parents' parents.
Comment by nightlydvdreview
Nightly DVD Review
Cinema Voyage
Green and Healthy
The Writer's Nook
1. The brother of Christopher Columbus was involved in the slave trade.
2. African tribes would capture people from other tribes to trade for fabric and weapons.
3. The US Civil war was NOT fought because of slavery, but because of economic reasons. Slavery was dying off and indentured servitude was becoming more commonplace.
4. All white people did not own slaves, and, in fact, there were some Black Americans that did.
5. There was a group of Black soldiers that fought on the side of the south.
6. Genetically, it is unlikely that any of the children I teach that are Black American would exist if slavery would not have existed in the United States. (Uncomfortable, but a fact.)
7, The United States has committed atrocities, as well as heroism during war-time. For example: The Massacre at Mei Lai.
8. Not everything wrong in the USA can be blamed on Republicans and George Bush. For example: Hurricane Katrina, (Pres cannot call out National Guard, nor can he activate regular army within borders without congressional authorization.) OR Iraq/Afghanistan (Can't go to war without Congress authorizing)
9. Not everything can be blamed on Obama. Ex: Oil spill in the Gulf.
10. Money for social programs (and for their own households) must come from somewhere. Nothing is truly FREE.
(Just my top 10 list.
As far as some of the problems with the educational system, one of the major ones, I believe, is a lack of parental involvement.
When you have a parent that contacts the school, it keeps the bad teachers on their toes, and keeps the kid from acting up if they think someone might stop by at any time. Anyway, I'll go now, but seriously, this was a great article. Kudos to you.
Comment by sports freak
sports freak
thecnology and gadgets
Comment by Ian White
A Cynic's-Eye-View
Amuse I
Collective Wit
Daily Wit
I actually have Lies my teacher told me. It's always great to see a teacher that atleast gives a shit and tries to inform rather than follow the mandated curriculum which cultivates ignorance. True world history and true american history should be the focus, along with encouraging students to think for themselves and develop learning. There needs to be more than just one adult talking at 30 students for 45 mins.