History Teaching Criticised

This article did "hit home" for me when I read it
this morning, and not simply because of tomorrow's 2
year anniversary of the Trade Tower massacre.

online:
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030909-035658-9396r

Analysis: History teaching criticized
By Les Kjos
Published 9/9/2003 6:43 PM
MIAMI, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- A non-partisan educational
think tank thinks young Americans are losing track of
the difference between the good guys and the bad guys,
and the schools are not doing enough to correct the
problem.

In the American flag-waving wake of the terrorist
attacks in New York and Washington two years ago, the
message of patriotism apparently didn't get into the
history curriculum, at least not yet.

There has been a flurry of criticism about what has
been called a cynical view of American history in the
nation's classrooms.

The Albert Shanker Institute released its report,
entitled "Education for Democracy," in Washington
Tuesday, and it has received widespread support from
across the political spectrum.

"The main point is that we have to take a look at what
we're teaching in schools and make some adjustments so
we are teaching history and American democracy much
more clearly," said Sandra Feldman, president of the
American Federation of Teachers, which founded the
institute.

"We seemed to move too far over toward talking about
our problems. We have to stay vigilant about our
problems, but we have to teach our people about the
glorious history of our democracy," she said.

Feldman and other critics have complained that there
is more teaching about the internment of Japanese
during World War II than about the atrocities of the
Japanese military. They want those kinds of policies
to end.

"We know young people are more engaged in current
affairs because of Sept. 11, and it's important to
help them know about the world," Feldman said.

The statement has received the endorsement of former
President Bill Clinton, former U.N. Ambassador Jeane
Kirkpatrick, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson,
historian David McCullough and former presidential
candidate Bill Bradley.

"I hope the document will have a wide circulation as
it is a clear and thoughtful exposition of a serious
problem," said Byron Hollinshead, vice chair of
American Historical Publications and one of the
signatories.

Former Secretary of Labor Ray Marshall called it "a
good and valuable statement. I would be honored to be
associated with it."

Feldman said the long list of signatories was
gratifying.

"We were very pleased. I think there is a hunger for
reassertion of core American values and a desire
across the American spectrum that we make sure our
youth knows what those core values are," she said.

The statement accompanies an earlier
institute-sponsored study, "Educating Democracy, State
Standards to Ensure a Civic Core," which says that
despite the successes of the standards movement, many
states still relegate history and civics standards to
a secondary status.

These disciplines, often lost in the constant emphasis
on reading and math, help students to cultivate a
conscience and prepare them to make difficult moral
and political choices, thus enriching the democratic
life of the nation, the report said.

The statement argues that we must also reject moral
relativism -- an I'm OK, you're OK version of history
in which every idea is deemed equally worthy and the
universal longing for democracy is dismissed as an
American plot.

It argues for a study of history in which objectivity
and neutrality should not be confused.

The statement calls on our schools "to purposely
impart to their students the learning necessary for an
informed, reasoned allegiance to the ideals of a free
society."

It notes that efforts to reach that goal have been
undercut by textbooks tilted toward a negative
depiction of American history.

It cites a 2000 report by the American Textbook
Council and a 2003 study by the historian Diane
Ravitch, both of which conclude that textbooks present
an unduly harsh version of the American story.

"We need to present American history in a way that
neither minimizes nor magnifies our failings," Feldman
said. "At the same time we owe our students an honest
portrait of dictators who have inflicted massive
suffering on their own people and others. We cannot
airbrush away the atrocities that have characterized
many repressive regimes."

Others who signed the statement include former Indiana
Rep. Lee Hamilton, former North Carolina Gov. James
Hunt, former New College President and former Sen. Bob
Kerrey, Georgia Rep. John Lewis, "Language Police"
author Diane Ravitch, former Department of Health and
Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, AFL-CIO
President John Sweeney and National Education
Association President Reg Weaver.

The Albert Shanker Institute, named in honor of the
late president of the American Federation of Teachers,
is a non-profit organization dedicated to education,
unions as advocates for quality and freedom of
association.

END