Option #2: Reflect on the conversations that took place in this week's socratic circle.
There really may be no true way to solve the "textbook issue" being debated. However, the way Texas is going about their proposed curriculum change is unfair and unethical. You cannot take important political figures out of history to fit the kind of curriculum you would like to see fit. Trying to take out Thomas Jefferson from history is absolutely ridiculous, as he played a vital role in the history of America. A standardized curriculum needs to be set for all of the United States.
To create an objective textbook would be a challenge in itself, but it is not just about that. The delivery of the history from the teacher is also another problem. It does matter what you include in the book, because students will form their opinions based off of the information they've been given. It needs to be delivered objectively so the students are free to form their own views, instead of having a teacher's insight pressed upon them.
Minority voices should be included in history. While they may not be as important as important figures in history, they still played a role in the forming of our current day America. It makes a statement that we as Americans make sure to highlight not only the vital figures in history, but the minorities that affected it as well.
It may be possible to construct a more efficient method of studying history. However, the roles the teachers play impact the students more than the curriculum itself. The way they deliver the curriculum is biased towards their opinions, which could be changed by presenting points of view in history that look at different sides. History is meant to be discussed and debated, not read to you in a black and white manner.
I enjoyed reading your comments about our discussion in class last week. I agree with most of the comments you wrote. I, myself, wrote about how it would be wrong to eliminate important figures from our history. But like i wrote in my blog, how do we know people in the past did not have conflicts, like this one about Thomas Jefferson, about eliminating important people from their past also? We have no way of knowing what parts of our history are true, and if some parts are made up, or even missing. No one knows, unfortunately. To continue, i agree with what you have to say on how kids should not only memorize what the teacher teaches them about history, but should also have a say and have their own point of view on it. If kids have the opportunity to express their point of view on what happened in the past, and how they feel about it, may also help them be more interested in knowing more and getting involved with discussions and debates about history with the class. If teachers do not give their kids the opportunity to express themselves like you said history could be plain, like "black and white" and would not be as much fun to learn and study in this manner. ,:-)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your outlook. I was happy to see that we had many of the same ideas and that we stood on the same side of the issue... as did most of the class though =D. Anyway, i agree completely that discussion in class is the key to this problem; as you'll see in my blog haha. It really does help allow "sides" to be more easily conveyed, which would benefit a class seeking pure objectiveness. I also agree that teachers are a fundamental component. As hard as it might be, i feel that a full-hearted effort should be made to remain unbiased when teaching a class. History especially, because it can become very controversial; as we read in our articles in class. I also liked your statement about history not meaning to be "read to you in a black and white manner." I agree that it is very important to not only understand history, but to discuss it in order to hear different viewpoints.
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