Retired Social Studies teacher here. I'd like to differentiate between an educator's failure on civics and history education versus outside pressures on the education system regarding these subjects. In my experience, beginning with Ronald Reagan's A Nation at Risk, our country was brainwashed into believing that the US was far behind in…
Retired Social Studies teacher here. I'd like to differentiate between an educator's failure on civics and history education versus outside pressures on the education system regarding these subjects. In my experience, beginning with Ronald Reagan's A Nation at Risk, our country was brainwashed into believing that the US was far behind in the teaching of math and science. Next, Americans were told that due to the rapid changes in technology students needed to receive even more education in math and science. I don't disagree that our country had room for improvement in these areas but what I experienced and saw was the severe loss to students in other areas of their education. People were led to believe math and science courses were more important than other subjects. As a result, there was less and less focus on history, civics, art, reading, recess/phy ed. As a high school teacher, I observed students and parents complained because US History, World History, Economics, and Government were required for graduation because these classes wasted their time and because "they will never use this information in real life." In my school district, I worked with exceptional social science teachers - brilliant, dedicated people who constantly updated their teaching pedagogy. Parents often devalued the social science courses their children were in and resented the "waste" of their child's time. In elementary schools, the teaching of history and civics was reduced to 30-40 minutes a week and was superficial at best. It has become very obvious what the cost of these choices has had on the country.
I couldn't agree more! You have pegged the problem. IMO, the subjects around literacy, history, social studies are of primary importance - they provide the tools needed to succeed in other studies, life and society. Basic numeration, of course, and an appreciation of the methods of science and scientific "literacy" are key goals, too. But balance and the liberal education lead us forward in all fields of endeavor. My career was spent in data, computers and modeling - I got there by reading. My career in government was informed by my teachers in history, civics and government studies. America's strengths have always emerged with the breadth of our education leading to innovative thinking and leadership in ideas.
Hello, former history teacher and current graduate student who works on the history of education. it began before Reagan, though A Nation at Risk was certainly a part of the continued assault on liberal arts education. I study the 1940s-1960s and there were substantial calls from conservatives for the Three Rs education. In this, history fell by the wayside. Further, "controversial topics" which had previously been embraced by progressive educators as something necessary to discuss were jettisoned. Instead, conservatives pushed for history education that taught rote memorization and exalted blind acceptance of parental authority. This latter was often a cover for the maintenance of racist ideologies and religious bigotry.
There have been numerous pieces of journalism of late regarding the number of local schools districts that are poisoning their children with distorted history. And that is a huge reason for why so many in our country don’t know historical facts. Most of us have enough trouble keeping up with what’s needed of us in our own little bubbles and are therefore challenged to pay attention to what has happened to the curriculum in some hyper partisan districts out west.
I really am not making a judgment about your statement, however, I don't think it is fair to make broad generalized statements that there have been "numerous pieces of journalism" "regarding local school districts poisoning their children." What pieces of journalism? Which publications? Which journalists? Which school districts? While I would never make a broad statement that such a thing never happens, my original post refers to the fact that most social science teachers are dedicated to truth in teaching. Keep in mind that public school teachers are required to teach content as guided by state-mandated standards and benchmarks. I have worked on those committees so I am familiar with those processes. There truly is a dedication to best teaching practices and exploring well-rounded historical facts. I think well-rounded is the key. In order to provide the best education possible, we need to teach about both the good decisions, experiences, and social movements as well as those areas that had a less positive impact. We need to acknowledge that decision-makers, while perhaps making what they thought were the best decisions may have in fact, have negatively impacted The US and Americans. People aren't perfect. Our nation is not perfect. We seek to create a more perfect union but make mistakes. Just as in life, mistakes and failures are learning opportunities. The best history education helps students to think critically about the past, including the mistakes and failures. To ignore this history is to prevent young people from learning and understanding how past choices created particular results. I value education highly and, to me, that means looking at our past as honestly as we can, warts and all.
Here’s a Cato Institute (Libertarian Institute think tank) Twitter page that highlights various controversies over curriculum. There appears to be much confusion over historical fact and the interpretation of history. Let me be very clear, I’m a strong proponent of government that loves and takes care of all people. I despise the premise of Libertarianism. But the Twitter page gives credence to my assertion on the problem of an accurate curriculum.
LOL. I’m not your “student”. I offered my perspective as someone who reads widely and nonstop. It’s not up to me to provide you with a list of sources and Google couldn’t be much easier to use. I speak of local school boards primarily. My spouse is an educator, I’m not disparaging teachers, I have great respect for the vast majority. As with any profession there can be bad apples, I have experienced history teachers who don’t flinch at teaching propaganda.
Retired Social Studies teacher here. I'd like to differentiate between an educator's failure on civics and history education versus outside pressures on the education system regarding these subjects. In my experience, beginning with Ronald Reagan's A Nation at Risk, our country was brainwashed into believing that the US was far behind in the teaching of math and science. Next, Americans were told that due to the rapid changes in technology students needed to receive even more education in math and science. I don't disagree that our country had room for improvement in these areas but what I experienced and saw was the severe loss to students in other areas of their education. People were led to believe math and science courses were more important than other subjects. As a result, there was less and less focus on history, civics, art, reading, recess/phy ed. As a high school teacher, I observed students and parents complained because US History, World History, Economics, and Government were required for graduation because these classes wasted their time and because "they will never use this information in real life." In my school district, I worked with exceptional social science teachers - brilliant, dedicated people who constantly updated their teaching pedagogy. Parents often devalued the social science courses their children were in and resented the "waste" of their child's time. In elementary schools, the teaching of history and civics was reduced to 30-40 minutes a week and was superficial at best. It has become very obvious what the cost of these choices has had on the country.
I couldn't agree more! You have pegged the problem. IMO, the subjects around literacy, history, social studies are of primary importance - they provide the tools needed to succeed in other studies, life and society. Basic numeration, of course, and an appreciation of the methods of science and scientific "literacy" are key goals, too. But balance and the liberal education lead us forward in all fields of endeavor. My career was spent in data, computers and modeling - I got there by reading. My career in government was informed by my teachers in history, civics and government studies. America's strengths have always emerged with the breadth of our education leading to innovative thinking and leadership in ideas.
Hello, former history teacher and current graduate student who works on the history of education. it began before Reagan, though A Nation at Risk was certainly a part of the continued assault on liberal arts education. I study the 1940s-1960s and there were substantial calls from conservatives for the Three Rs education. In this, history fell by the wayside. Further, "controversial topics" which had previously been embraced by progressive educators as something necessary to discuss were jettisoned. Instead, conservatives pushed for history education that taught rote memorization and exalted blind acceptance of parental authority. This latter was often a cover for the maintenance of racist ideologies and religious bigotry.
There have been numerous pieces of journalism of late regarding the number of local schools districts that are poisoning their children with distorted history. And that is a huge reason for why so many in our country don’t know historical facts. Most of us have enough trouble keeping up with what’s needed of us in our own little bubbles and are therefore challenged to pay attention to what has happened to the curriculum in some hyper partisan districts out west.
I really am not making a judgment about your statement, however, I don't think it is fair to make broad generalized statements that there have been "numerous pieces of journalism" "regarding local school districts poisoning their children." What pieces of journalism? Which publications? Which journalists? Which school districts? While I would never make a broad statement that such a thing never happens, my original post refers to the fact that most social science teachers are dedicated to truth in teaching. Keep in mind that public school teachers are required to teach content as guided by state-mandated standards and benchmarks. I have worked on those committees so I am familiar with those processes. There truly is a dedication to best teaching practices and exploring well-rounded historical facts. I think well-rounded is the key. In order to provide the best education possible, we need to teach about both the good decisions, experiences, and social movements as well as those areas that had a less positive impact. We need to acknowledge that decision-makers, while perhaps making what they thought were the best decisions may have in fact, have negatively impacted The US and Americans. People aren't perfect. Our nation is not perfect. We seek to create a more perfect union but make mistakes. Just as in life, mistakes and failures are learning opportunities. The best history education helps students to think critically about the past, including the mistakes and failures. To ignore this history is to prevent young people from learning and understanding how past choices created particular results. I value education highly and, to me, that means looking at our past as honestly as we can, warts and all.
Here’s a Cato Institute (Libertarian Institute think tank) Twitter page that highlights various controversies over curriculum. There appears to be much confusion over historical fact and the interpretation of history. Let me be very clear, I’m a strong proponent of government that loves and takes care of all people. I despise the premise of Libertarianism. But the Twitter page gives credence to my assertion on the problem of an accurate curriculum.
LOL. I’m not your “student”. I offered my perspective as someone who reads widely and nonstop. It’s not up to me to provide you with a list of sources and Google couldn’t be much easier to use. I speak of local school boards primarily. My spouse is an educator, I’m not disparaging teachers, I have great respect for the vast majority. As with any profession there can be bad apples, I have experienced history teachers who don’t flinch at teaching propaganda.
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_6000bce3c5b62c0057bb711f?fbclid=IwAR3SIF2NtfUnfB9pO6YHUvs5NH_zJpwaqObtc8Ybv5HHVT5PeD8aMYTDX24