Bigthink - Idea Comments Feed

Comment on: Howard Zinn on the Limitations of American History Books

Bigthink — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:24:03 +0100

James Loewen has written a couple of great books, "Lies My Teacher Taught Me" and "Lies Across America". As Professor Zinn states, there's a nationalistic aspect to history books. How many people still believe that Columbus discovered America in 1492? How do you account for the people who were here before Columbus "discovered" it? How often is it still taught?

We tend to think of American History starting with the Roanoke colony, discounting not only the history of native peoples, but of the Spanish communities in the Southwest or in Florida. I don't know how history is currently being taught - when I was in high school (mid 1970s), it was taught by a football coach and I think we got as far as the Great Depression of the 1930s. About 2 months of the class was spent learning the answers to state-required tests on the state and US Constitutions.

Comment on: Howard Zinn on the Limitations of American History Books

Bigthink — Wed, 21 May 2008 21:22:16 +0100

susan8888

Social history has always been unpopular with the right, because it is impossible to simplify and pervert to a nationalistic purpose.

I'm not sure that the social history of America in the 20th Century tells a story that many contemporary Republicans would want to hear.

Comment on: Howard Zinn on the Limitations of American History Books

Bigthink — Wed, 21 May 2008 02:41:01 +0100

"[Change in traditional textbooks will] have to come from below." That's pretty scary. Science and biology textbooks being challenged from below by non-experts and not in a good way.

Comment on: Howard Zinn on the Limitations of American History Books

Bigthink — Sun, 18 May 2008 15:58:52 +0100

One of the biggest problems with the way most history books are written is that they tend to focus on a very narrow aspect of history... One that is based on winners and losers.

When history is taught through art, design, production, belief systems, and common life experiences then a more balanced view can be presented. Giving a more complete context of what life was like in a certain place and time can help put the political events and ideas of the day in perspective... Not to mention making history far more interesting to more people.

Current history texts are often found to be, at best, boring to most people. That may be their biggest limitation as it means few are interested in learning from them. Using the more intimate aspects of life that people can relate to teach history can greatly increase their viability to teach the bigger picture.

Comment on: Howard Zinn on the Limitations of American History Books

Bigthink — Thu, 15 May 2008 08:55:38 +0100

Great posting:

It is said that History is written by the winners. Maybe America has to loose a few before it can produce a reasonable account of itself.

Until then maybe the best (the most objective and honest) view of American history will come from outside. Americans might learn a lot from what British, French, Canadian or Australian historians have to say about their past.

RO