Why isn't there more responsibility of teaching more about Historical facts to younger generations ?

Question

I've recently started to read more about History. I'm a lady of 50 and now wonder why schools never in the past, made History more mandatory or presented it in a more interesting light. I believe if our young people paid more attention to truth in History , when future generations grew up and became world leaders, they would learn to make less mistakes by what they learned from our past. I now understand a lot more about life in general by reading as much as I can about World History. Schools in 1960's and 1970's did not seem to encourage students to pay attention to historical information. Of course the T.V. media was new in the 1940's and commercial broadcasting was in its beginning stage after the war, and younger generations were targeted for being sold to by any means possible. Today in 2006 we have super highways of information zooming at us with high technology and most information is false sales tactics. I feel sorry for the future generations that depend on our tarnished media, that is polluting the young minds of the world and can bring only future problems.

Answer 1

Instant gratification.

Today's generation, with some exceptions, is a lot more concerned about the here and now. Part of the problem is the way history is taught in the classroom - with emphasis on dates and places rather than causes and effects. And, of course, the use of computers in film and other media is so pervasive that, doubtless, there are people who believe that Forrest Gump really was a part of all those events.

Answer 2

Look at your question honestly; when you were in your teens and early 20's did you pay much attention to history? I didn't, and became more interested in history after I turned 40. The media has always "tarnished" the facts; watch the History Channel or VH1 and watch some of the news clips from the past objectively.

Try not to judge the generation or the youth too harshly; they are no less informed or more corrupt than precious generations. We were all fed the garbage of our day, and it was only with maturity and wisdom that we saw past it. There will be good and bad results, good and bad people as our kids (and grandkids) grow up, and there will good times and economic hardships as there always have been.

Study up on the pre-Depression 1920's ... now those young people were about as carefree as any generation has ever been - at least until the 1960's.

Answer 3

I'm not sure what is to blame, or if it is a shift in priorities. My mother is much better at answering historical questions on "Jeopardy" than I am, but I usually do better at answering music, fine arts, and pop culture questions. However, as an adult I am getting more interested in history for the sake of writing for theater. So far I have researched pirates in the Caribbean, 1940s post-war culture, coal-mining in Scotland, 19th century outlaws, along with Mormon pioneer history to write several plays to date. I do know when I looked over homework from elementary school students a few years ago, that there seemed to be a bigger emphasis on learning about modern-day culture, part of the multi-culturalism movement or something. I guess the change in priorities makes people more socially aware of what is going on around them, but it seems like students lack depth of understanding cause and effect, so they may end up blaming political leaders for things which are beyond their range of influence. I do make a point of buying educational computer games which have an element of history to them, including the history of the Mayas, Harry Houdini, carousels, China, etc.

Answer 4

I don't wanna sound like a Luddite, but when "News networks" like Fox News, and Fish wraps like "The New Republic" make up the news or distort the facts so greatly and obviously, that many of my friends have cast a very cautious eye to what is now being presented to us as "history".
There are political implications in the present as to how our past is presented and it is very confusing.
For example-I have been "Taught" that the US Civil war was REALLY fought for multiple of reasons: 1> To free the slaves 2. Determine Federal Rights vs States rights 3. To determine power between suppliers and industrial barons 5. Guarantee a Stable and cheap supply of cotton to the Northern factories. 6. A land and power grab by Northern opportunists.
Which is correct? Depends on the ideology and perspective of your professor.
The answer DEFIANTLY not correct is #1, which is the one you usually find in the history books as the major reason of the war!

Answer 5

You're right history was one-sided at the time you were in high school. However I do believe there have been great strides in revamping the curriculum in history classes.

For example you will find that there are more historical readings about people of color than previously taught. You will also find more current events occurring in history classes. And you will also see that more truth is being released to our students.

We still have some ground to cover to bring ALL out in examining the truths though. There are still some hidden agendas that the main stream society has yet to come clean with. But...what's hid will come to the light!!

Peace Out.

Answer 6

Relevant United States history has been loosing ground because of the influx of immigrants both legal and illegal. People from outside the US could care less about our history. They are only looking at the present and what the future will provide. There are kids graduating from high school today who have no idea who JFK was. "Oh wasn't he president or something?" is the usual standard answer. When I pick up a phone today and have to dial one for English that's tell me a lot about where this country is going...................Hell is a hand basket!!!!

Answer 7

Because all too often there's a motive for not teaching History. People may actually learn from the mistakes of the past and not allow themselves to become sheep.

As for actually teaching the subject, it has to be more than famous places and people and dates to remember and be tested on, it has to be fun. How many History teachers that you had in school loved the subject so much they made it fun for the students? I was fortunate. I had a teacher that encouraged my interest.

Answer 8

Children hate history class!...because of how its presented...as a series of dates and names and what basically happened...glossing over the bad , usually ....Patriotism should be left out of the classroom.

My father was a college hist. prof. and the kids loved him...he'd tell them why this or that was important to us...and make them think...pose questions as to why America did this or that...how we treated the Native Americans...or was the A-bomb imorral and or necessary....and why this or that event should be revered or denounced....History is not a memorization exersize...it's supposed to be see why things happened and learning from the past to help with the present.

And...alot of what they teach in public schools is flat out incorrect...I have a 10 year old that comes home with the stupidest incorrect crap you can think of....and I let the school know and back it up with the facts and they say their sorry...theyve even let ne come in and theach a class on the American Revolution.....so in my opinion its taught incorrectly.

Answer 9

You can blame Political Correctness and revisionism for most of it. I too feel sorry for the younger generation and the swill they are indoctrinated in daily. The truth no longer matters, and facts mean nothing. It's all about how you or someone else feels about it. This is one reason "junk science" is treated as fact. None know the truth, or are strong enough to stand up for it.

Answer 10

I taught high school history for ten years.I think the answer to your question is twofold. First..it is taught, but kids hate it and don't listen.2. It is not a subject that is on the FCAT tests, and so schools do not put as much emphasis on it as they do math and science.(sad though it may be)