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The way history used to be taught . Thomas Jefferson was a visionary statesman, Christopher Columbus was a grand explorer and George Washington was a hero who never told a lie.
“Cutting down the cherry tree, all that stuff,” says 17-year-old Matt Gibson.
But in many high schools, students now hear about Jefferson, the slave owner, and Columbus, the man responsible for the death of countless Native Americans.
“Yes, the dark side is much more evident in the teaching of American history now than it was 40 years ago,” says history teacher William Casey.
But some argue teachers are overemphasizing the dark side and producing students who are disengaged and disillusioned.
“If you’ve been taught that everything we’ve done is wrong, you’re going to think that everything we’re doing is wrong,” says Gibson.
“I think they’re certainly more cynical,” says historian Clifford Kuhn, a professor at Georgia State University.
But, he says if students today are more cynical, don’t blame history class. Blame recent history.
“You know there’s a cynicism that’s been growing in this country certainly since Vietnam and Watergate, and afterwards – cynicism about politicians,” explains Kuhn. “And we’ve seen evidence of lying and cheating politicians at the highest level again from Nixon through Clinton.”
Still, experts say if a parent feels a teacher is overly biased, they should talk with him/her.
“I’d also encourage families to get involved in history in other ways outside the classroom,” says Kuhn. “There is the history channel, there are museums.”
And he says to help your child understand history is always subject to interpretation, and questions are the way kids learn.
“The American system is always to question things,” says student Sivan Goobich, 16. “So I think it’s good to have a balance and be able to decide for yourself.” |
