It is a known fact that history is written by the victors so....?

Question

Why is it that what's written in textbooks is taken as fact?
So much of what i learned in H.S has been dismissed as complete lies, and or huge omissions of the truth.
If the truth is known, why are our children still being taught lies?

ex. Christopher Columbus
ex. African slave rebellions in N. America

Answer 1

You see, there is Factual Correctness, and Political Correctness...and since a lot of the facts are not politically correct, they can not taught.

Answer 2

The interesting thing about history is that because it's in the past, we think we should have a pretty good idea of what happened, at least in recent years. But historians are constantly arriving at new interpretations, based on discovering new texts, finally getting translations on existing texts, finding new records of first hand accounts, etc. History is written by the victors as far as the official story of who was "good", who was "bad", who was rebelling, and how things got started, but primary sources like diaries, family Bibles, correspondance, etc. can provide new information, and history is always being revised. So the truth isn't always known when we first learn about an event. But in the cases where we do know? Well...historically speaking, education has been a source of propaganda and nationalistic indoctrination worldwide. It might not be quite that extreme today, but education is largely concerned with the results we want, not the process by which we get there, or the ethical justifications. In some cases, the "official" story may be so entrenched that the teachers and authors don't realize it's not true. Without specifics about what events/people you're referring to, these are the best guesses I have :)

Answer 3

The phrase, "History is written by the winners," is not a fact, it is in fact an addage -- a saying that has gained credit through long use.

The problem with textbooks is that once something is written down, it begins to take on a life of its own. When it comes to history, what gets put into the textbooks often reflects the agenda of the textbook author. For instance--

If you study WWII in Japan you will see an entirely different take on the war than if you studied it the USA.

If you want to know what really happened you need to examine an event from as many angles as possible. It's often not convenient for the interpreter of history to simply present the facts and let the observer draw their own conclusions. Some historians are often more interested in putting forth their interpretation of history than the history itself.

I would also add that if you believe your children are being taught lies, then you need to either counter what the government schools are teaching them, or you need to find an alternative to the goverment schools.

Answer 4

It's not ALL nonsense, though a lot of it is. Keep in mind that history, as it's taught to children is intended to instill a particular world view and sense of loyalty to the child's own country/tribal group. It's considered secondary that the "facts" should actually be true.

Be happy that you're paying attention enough to work at separating the wheat from the chaff.

The programming doesn't "take" with some people as well as others. Unfortunately, it's probably necessary that a certain percentage of the population operate thinking that the lies presented are actually true. YOU don't have to be one of the deluded ones, though. Having a realistic view gives you power, but, then again, ignorance really can be bliss.

Answer 5

The victors have always been able to write anything they want years later, for example the christian religion is bases on so many untruths and over the decades the christian bible has been change so many times that who knowes what the real truth is, like most things the base story line in any book may be real but then it changes to suit the authors or story teller over the years.
Even today the American government has been telling the public about two of their soldiers that are heroes and they could end up in the history books, except the truth came out and it seem that they were nothing like what the public has been told about them, so the lies are told right from the start of what could be history in years to come.

Answer 6

The "written word" has held a mystique since words were first written. How many times have you had an opinion that is considered invalid unless and until you can provide something in writing to back up your thought? Everything is opinion, or one's perception of Truth. When a majority of authoritative thinkers hold the same opinion or perception of the Truth, that opinion is held as "fact". It becomes foundational to education. "TRUTH" as an absolute is always unknown, and lies usually have some elements of truth. The best we can do is to keep questioning the validity of opinion.

Answer 7

Who takes textbooks as fact?

They can only, ever, be the subjective product of an author.

A good teacher will use at least two, but maybe they are constrained by the tightness of school budgets and the demands from some parents that the achievement of their children is measurable by answering questions in exams.

And it is always good to consider who is dismissing what, as lies.. And why they are doing it!

Answer 8

Not necessarily a known fact. Only true if the winners are interested in writing history.
Athenians, not Spartans, wrote about the Peloponnesian War, which Athens lost.
For Genghis Khan and his Mongols we're mostly dependent on the Persians and Chinese they conquered.
Similar with the Vikings.
It's time to forget this silly generalisation.

Answer 9

It's true, most of what is in our elementary textbooks is just absurd. Middles School is worse, though HS isn't as bad. My college textbook's were worse than the ones I had in High School as a matter of fact, though my High School teachers didn't really use the textbook because they were so useless.

Answer 10

The phrase is over used and oddly inacurrate - - - those recording 'history' have often been impartial observers, it is when a society/nation/people accept a viewpoint as a 'fact' that it becomes accepted as truth. Still there are alternative views available and what it takes is for one to read a variety of sources and 'gleam' the truth. It can be challenging, much that is fact is in fact myth - - - one of my favorite examples being the 'heroic' explouits of Captain Scottt of Antartic fame, he mismanaged his expedition and near the end laid down in his tent and died - - - for that schoolchildren accept him as having actually accomplished something.

But I digress - - - obviouslly you are bright, you just need to seek out alternative sources of information - - - they are out there.

Peace....

Answer 11

any interpretation of anything is someones opinion. whats the alternative, teach nothing? Surely youve heard about those who dont learn from history are condemned to repeat it. I dont get what your point is. I have taught my children from an early age not to get sucked in by liberal media bias and to judge everything you see and read critically but with an open mind. I believe thats all you can do. again, whats the alternative, having us all end up like Harry Reid and not understand the difference between success and failure, right and wrong? not a good path.