(no subject)
I guess I haven't posted about our trip to England... that will have to come another day. I've got history on the mind and a paper to write. Sadly, I can't fit this on Facebook.
Should American children be taught about our great "heroes" without also acknowledging their misdeeds? This is a very interesting question to me. It has to do with wanting to instill a certain value system in our children, but I think a true appreciation of values and good morals requires an acknowledgment of our own humanity and the mistakes as well as the accomplishments of the past. Otherwise, what is to stop us from even developing more hubris than we already have?
I also think it would be a discredit to history and the people who created it... the heroes, the women, slaves, and the whole shebang. Personally, while I would like to be admired after I'm dead, I don't think I would enjoy being made into a demigod. Maybe. ;) Not that the gods were ever perfect.... Anyway, the thing that I find so compelling about history is that by its very nature, it challenges our own moral system because our ancestors did not think the same way we do. How can someone contribute something meaningful to society and still participate in deplorable activities? This is likewise relevant for today's society.
Some people think that high school students aren't capable of such nuances, but I think they are capable of more than we give them credit for. It just has to be brought down to their level without dumbing it down. Easier said than done, I know. It is also my belief, in my naivete, that if high school history was taught more widely in such a nuanced manner (something similar to the actual profession), it might not be quite so hated by the general population.
Should American children be taught about our great "heroes" without also acknowledging their misdeeds? This is a very interesting question to me. It has to do with wanting to instill a certain value system in our children, but I think a true appreciation of values and good morals requires an acknowledgment of our own humanity and the mistakes as well as the accomplishments of the past. Otherwise, what is to stop us from even developing more hubris than we already have?
I also think it would be a discredit to history and the people who created it... the heroes, the women, slaves, and the whole shebang. Personally, while I would like to be admired after I'm dead, I don't think I would enjoy being made into a demigod. Maybe. ;) Not that the gods were ever perfect.... Anyway, the thing that I find so compelling about history is that by its very nature, it challenges our own moral system because our ancestors did not think the same way we do. How can someone contribute something meaningful to society and still participate in deplorable activities? This is likewise relevant for today's society.
Some people think that high school students aren't capable of such nuances, but I think they are capable of more than we give them credit for. It just has to be brought down to their level without dumbing it down. Easier said than done, I know. It is also my belief, in my naivete, that if high school history was taught more widely in such a nuanced manner (something similar to the actual profession), it might not be quite so hated by the general population.