Issues with the Credibility of History in the Classroom
Issues with the Credibility of History in the Classroom
Mr. Loewen in chapter 11 "Why is history taught like this" tries to give different reasons why in fact history is taught this way in our schools. He switches between blaming and then forgiving the upper class in influencing authors and publishers for these types of textbooks. (Lies 273-276) They may be part to blame in the influence on some subjects however the textbooks on the average are not chosen by these people but by committees who are part of the countless school systems throughout this great nation.
These committees who do chose which textbooks are used in their schools don’t actually have the time to read the textbooks but rather they scan through them. This in turn is a major motivator for the publisher to have a book that is flashy and eye catching rather then a textbook that is true to history. Textbooks are also written on the attitudes and social conditions of the time of the author rather then accurate historical facts. (Lie 293) Textbooks are being written this way and history is being taught this way to show people how they should act and strive to be. This relays to the student what is deemed acceptable to everyone and what is not.
When it comes to a student remembering historical lessons they normally do not remember what is being taught to them unless they are moved by it. ( Lies 301) So what is the result to a society where our students are being taught this way? The number one result is that students do not know the true history of their country nor do they remember what they were taught in class. This is a sad conclusion but Mr. Loewen feels it is an accurate one given responses to questions he has asked his students throughout the years. . Our children need not be sheltered from our true history, rather they should learn all that has happened so we can prevent the same mistakes in our history from being repeated.