Why do children today know nothing of their history and culture?

Answer 1

At the university level, History is called a "Soft Science" and is even somewhat looked down upon by those in the "Hard Science" fields. Grade and high schools aren't very excited about teaching the subject. Instead, they're looking to teach whatever test the state and federal govenments have cooked up in order to "measure" how well each school is doing and divy out the funds accordingly. As for the parents, you should read a number of the political and sociology questions and the miriad of misinformation answers posted here on Answers. It is truly mindboggling and is an absolute wonder we've progressed at all as a society. Even when I post nothing but varifiable facts and list my resources, I am all too often shouted down by those more ignorant than myself who refuse to believe. My "Facts" don't fit their paradigm.

Answer 2

Speaking from a United States standpoint.

Isn’t it up to the PARENTS to teach their own children about where they came from and the beliefs that go with the family? Political correctness in schools today would have you think that the founding fathers of the USA were slave owning moneygrubbers blah, blah, blah…

Really, No Race, religion, etc… doesn’t have ghosts in their closet. Let’s not have the educational system misconstrue who, what, where, when and why. I’m in the USA, so my country should teach about the history of the USA. Each state should teach about what they contributed to the future and advancement of the USA. If you come from a multicultural family then the family should teach the children about who their ancestors were and maybe something to be proud of. I’ve never heard of a child NOT want to hear of some great story of their forefathers.

Let’s start looking at the positive side of what this nation has offered people. Last time I looked every Man, Woman and Child that is or wants to be a United States Citizen IS my Brother or Sister. They inherit all that is Good. With a little under 1 Million people PER YEAR entering the USA to become citizens from ALL over the world it MUST be one of the best countries in the world. (AND I talk to people every day from the UK, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Belgium, etc… Look at the immigration status of foreign lands, I have. We have a great culture here. In my estimation we are all UNITED in a common bond being in the USA.

As for history in the SCHOOLS? I think it gets complicated for some. Names, dates, etc… To me it was watered down. Instead of learning something amazing about lets say, “The Charge of the Light Brigade”, all they teach are maybe the people involved and what date it took place. No substance, BORING!!!! You know what got me interested in the Crimean War? “Our Gang” when Alfalfa was reciting the poem by Tennyson. Pathetic that a TV program showed more enthusiasm than a teacher of the subject.

Answer 3

Children of today know little of the culture and history because they are the product of the new world order. Parents either do not have the time, no the will to teach them. Schools concentrate on the main stream and in many cases do not have the resources for more specialized courses. Add to this, computers, xbox's, Ipod's, a constant flow of television and it is easy to see how we have lost our way. Lastly, I think it has come to a point, where it is (trying to find the right words here, sorry if i stuff this up.) unfortunately unacceptible to be of certain cultures so children aren't taught their history and culture.

Answer 4

As a retired High school Social Studies teacher, here's my take. First, and most importantly, history is taught as a telephone directory; if history is the who, what, when, where, and why then it follows the MOST important way to approach the subject is not when a given event happened, but WHY it happened. In my judgment, George Santayana's observation painfully describes the apathy of students who don't like history, "those who do not remember the lessons of the past are condemned to repeat them."

In retrospect, students should be introduced to history by the 3rd or 4th grade and interwoven into other parts of the curriculum.

History, in its simplest form, is nothing more than the continuing story of everything that man has done either good or bad, etc. Textbooks, videos, and other visual aids
must be revised to reveal that story.

Answer 5

The answer lies in the balance between schools and parents. I am the son of an elementary principal and my extended family contains several different members of school districts as well. The fact that I grew up in the 70's first, prevented the media thing from being too much of an item, so I was given a love of books by my family. Then as I grew, I was fortunate to have many teachers who made it fun and interesting to learn. This is the secret: parents and teachers' main job is to create the DESIRE to learn within children. Restrict television, internet access to certain times, increase a child's reading skills with "Young Readers" titles. The main problem is that today's society has given children the "rights" to override a parent's decision.

Answer 6

It's because most kids are too self-centered to think they need to learn about history. They think that they "don't need to know it" or that it's a "waste of their time." A lot of kids are too lazy to put the effort into learning, because it's "boring." They waste their time in the classroom sitting there and talking about non-subject-related topics, because they're ignorant of the fact that learning is a right and they take advantage of that to use it as free time. The reason they know nothing about culture, is because many of them are too busy having sex and doing drugs to care. They forget about culture because it's not on their priority list. Thoug, if parents and other adults don't teach kids enough about the ideas and traditions that shape the culture of their country or heritage, the said traditions and ideas will end up lost.

Answer 7

Kids today are bloody ignorant, they are not taught much about culture and history anymore in school due to the "politically correct" brigade jumping on anything seen as offensive to other cultures...also kids are bombarded by the media with all sorts of materialistic crap which is way more tantalising to thier young minds.....its a shame as here in UK we have thousands of years of history which is slowly becoming forgotten.

Answer 8

That is really strange. In my country children know about their history and culture. What do you mean ?

Answer 9

I think this is the responsibility of us as parents to ensure our children learn where they come from.It is completely unfair to suggest it is the fault our educational institutions.It would not be possible to include everyone in our new society.There now are hundreds of races,religions,cultures etc. to consider in north America.Some changes may be needed in schools thees days,but to be perfectly honest if your children do not respect their history or culture maybe it is your fault.My comment is not meant to be disrespect full however maybe you should spend more time explaining your history at the home front.Every one of us have the responsibility to continue to educate our children at home.This subject included.

Answer 10

I think it is a general lack of caring. There is too much emphasis on youth, beauty, consumerism, escapist hobbies, etc... in this country. It is a way to control the population.

By removing history and culture, kids do not know who they are or where they came from. It makes them much easier to control as adults.