Education

[pistos]

As I turned around from delivering Johnna to the class gate (inside the building) today a woman stopped me and asked if I was Johhna's grandmother.  I affirmed this and the speaker identified herself as one of Johnna's teachers.  Right there on the spot, we had a 30 minute impromptu conference.  The more we spoke, the better I felt, no only about

Comments

[pistos]

At present I'm reading about 400 pages a week for class assignments and completing 1-2 major papers each week. If I can find the time to put something together for the class, I'd love to do it. Maybe a little history-mystery. It could be fun.

As to specializing in history? No such luck at the undergrad level. I'm taking everything from ancient Greek philosophy to World History from 1945. What interests me most, however, are plagues - anytime, any place. How they spread and especially how people over history have responded.

I think you'll find the approach to history in the lower grades has evolved considerably. It's no longer memorizing dates and names, but centered on themes. I disagree with moving away from dates, because until the history time line is firmly planted in the brain, it would be very easy to get jumbled up into nothing with some very good presenter/teachers. On the other hand, if someone can't make it interesting to kids - and it is a rare person who can - then the dates mean nothing anyway.

The best part of history is there is so much of it! Something for everyone.

[graywolf44]

I read voraciously, but 400 pages a week would be thoroughly intimidating! How you manage to find time for LJ is beyond me! Just shows your awesomeness, I guess. ;)

I've also heard stories that history is being "revised" to better reflect a liberal agenda ... if true, that is not good. :/

[pistos]

What's the saying? One man's insanity is another's inspiration. Not awesomeness - sleeplessness! I'll be happy enough when someday I can read the good stuff. (Legal briefs are not so much fun.)

Yes, indeed, there's been a trend stretching back a few decades to revise history. And no, it's not good at all. You know kids in elementary school don't learn much about the presidents anymore, right? Kind of like... Here is a picture of George Washington and now we go to lunch. That's stretching it a bit but you get the point.

There's a newer trend that's beginning to push back, however. I'm so fortunate to go to a public university in the South where most of the history curriculum is solidly conservative. We have a few actively liberal professors, like the loopy law professor I have this semester, but as a rule, we know who they are, and interestingly, their classes never fill very fast. So the newer trend is to revise what the revisionists put out and it's gaining traction.

[graywolf44]

So the newer trend is to revise what the revisionists put out and it's gaining traction.

Hopefully, that continues, and spreads to the rest of the country.

You're still awesome in my book. ;)