Question for teachers

[GalvestonDuck]

...or anyone else who'd like to explain.

Why are are we taught certain "facts" about history when we are younger and then taught something different when we get older?

I'm listening to Sam Donaldson right now and he's talking about Howard Dean's comment about getting votes from the guys in pickup trucks with Confederate flags on the back. Some callers have phoned in to talk about the history of the flag. It made me think back to how first they tell us the Civil War was fought to free slaves. Then we learn that it was about state's rights. If we dared to put "To end slavery" as the answer to "Why was the Civil War fought?" we'd get an F.

Another example -- we're told Paul Revere made the famous "Midnight Ride," yelling "The British are coming! The British are coming!" Then we find out Revere was captured and Dawes actually made the ride. But Revere's name sounded better in the poem.

I'm sure there are more examples, but those are the two that remain in the front of my brain and remind me every once in a while why I'm a free-thinker and why I don't believe everything I hear.

[Guest]

I'm sure there are more examples, but those are the two that remain in the front of my brain and remind me every once in a while why I'm a free-thinker and why I don't believe everything I hear.

I wish I had an answer for you but I don't. I agree with you about being a free-thinker and not believing everything we hear. Speaking in terms other than school, I'm sure the media also reports things with a slant. And due to reasons of national security, I'm sure there are times that the government does the same. I guess it's just how society works. They tell us what they want us to hear. Kinda like our court systems. I hate how jurors don't hear everything about the case. Like when a judge rules that a defendant's criminal past is irrelevant to his current trial. Oh the injustices in our world. So I guess take everything you hear with a grain of salt. Anyone got a better answer?

Oh by the way, I'm not a teacher, just a student.

[streetsoldier]

There is an old, but true maxim..."History books are always written by the victors".

Few people WANT to take the time to research original diaries, letters and records to see what our ancestors were REALLY about...how they saw themselves, their beliefs, dreams, etc.

And that spoils the study of TRUE history for those who only get an "approved" version in classes. Been there, had to deal with that AS a teacher...

[wx247]

Streetsoldier is absolutely right. You should read about the Revolutionary War from a British history textbook.

And by the way... we complain here about having to learn American history. Our history is tiny compared to places like Italy and Egypt. Imagine having to cover all of their material in a high school course. :o