3 Rs
Reading, writing and arithmetic, these three subjects are the basic outline for American schools. In those subjects, where does history fit in? Some believe that teachers avoid history because of how corrupt America's has been. James W. Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, says, "Parents may feel undermined when children get tools of information not available to adults and use them in ways that seem to threaten adult-held values." (Loewen 296.) The adults had to learn the same false history children are being taught today. By teaching children the truth about history, are adults risking the authority they hold along with adult-held values? "Learning social studies is to no small extent, learning to be stupid." (LMTTM 298.) What happens when history teachers and textbooks lie? Not only will the children grow up to be uneducated, but they'll continue to teach the same lies to their own children. The excuse most teachers use, according to Loewen, is they "feel they are supp
Another thing bad about lying to students regarding America's history, is the hypocrisy of it all. "On one hand, they describe a country without repression, without real conflict. On the other hand, they obviously believe that we need to lie to students to instill in them love of country. But if the country is so wonderful, why must we lie?" (Loewen 296.) Just the fact that the teachers and textbooks are lying at all shows how truly corrupt America can be. How can adults be worried about losing authoritative power when the authority is having a negative influence on America's future leaders? As far as values go, what kinds of values include educating America's youth with lies? When it comes to worrying about losing adult-held values and authority, adults are selfishly thinking about the wrong thing. Whether it's math, English, literature, or even history, lies should never be part of the lesson plan. Teachers and parents must be honest with children, or there is the possibility
Some common words found in the essay are:
Auschwitz Nazi, Told Parents, Woodrow Wilson, , America LMTTM, america's history, adult-held values, James Loewen, true history, loewen 296, teachers textbooks, spent holocaust, american schools, children learn, history class,
Approximate Word count = 670
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)
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