Do you think that teaching American History is harmful to children?

Question

This may seem like a very alarming question, but let me explain. I am beginning to think that teaching and focusing on American history throughout a child's education can be harmful to the ideal of Americanism - freedom. If a child becomes very nationalistic and regionalistic, and sees all from the view of America the victor, when they encounter children and immigrants from different cultures, will they see themselves as Americans and superior? I guess I can not explain this as well as I percieve the phenomenon, but do you think that we should focus more on teaching children world history, or is american history the best way to go? Would more world history benefit our politicians and leaders?

Answer 1

We need to teach MORE American history to students in America. We are graduating dolts that will never have an understanding of our struggle to become the greatest country in the world..

Answer 2

You are making a great leap here, and it is not necessarily a logical one. You presume that learning American history automatically means becoming nationalistic and regionalistic. That is simply not true. A good teacher teaches the good AND the bad. Most school curriculums now are required to teach about slavery, diversity, and even the Indian massacres. We learn about the Civil War, which was not exactly a walk in the park. I even learned in American history in school how American journalists lied and worked with Hawk politicians to get us into the Mexican-American War.

Let me put it this way. You learned American history as a kid, right? And you apparently are not nationalistic or regionalistic, or you would not be writing this. I, for one, am not either, and I not only learned American history as a kid, but I study it now for a living!

There is nothing wrong with being an American and knowing your American history. That is not a prerequisite for prejudice, racism, or regionalism. Whereas I DO agree with you that World History should be taught (and in every school I've ever encountered it IS taught), taking away American history will only make children ignorant about their own history, where they came from, and what it means to be an American. For me, being an American means embracing diversity and goodwill to all. It is not American history's fault that some people are not the same way. I think you have the right intentions here, but are aiming it at the wrong target. You are right that politicians would benefit from understanding world history better, but having it in schools is not the problem. Our politicians are what they are, and they would simply ignore it if you taught it to them. Just like they apparently ignored their American history.

Answer 3

From what you have said already about the teaching of American history to the children of America from the point of view of America the Victor, then I agree that such teaching is harmful in the long-term.

Americans throughout the world, are thought to be ignorant of anything much beyond their own shore-line. This may not be entirely true, but that is the impression received outside the USA.

I worked for an American company here in London for 23 years and was frankly amazed at the oft ignorance of the Americans concerning even their own roots. They seemed to think that their way of life and their culture was entirely of their own making and invention.

It is this and the great American denial of others which so depresses the world outside the USA.

Take this as an example. How many Americans believe that their right to a trial by jury is an American concept? A great many I suspect. Well it is not. The right to a fair trial by a jury of ones own peers and the concept that a person is innocent before being proved guilty, is entirely English and is established in England by such documents as Magna Carta.

And you know what? The Yahoo spell checker does not even recognise the words MAGNA and CARTA. Just how crap is that?

It's very simple really, MAGNA = big, and CARTA = chart. Big chart or big document.

Answer 4

I completely understand where you are coming from. I think that in today's society children (myself included being 16) are exposed at an earlier age about things. For example at the age of 7 I already understood concepts about the universe that 16 year olds don't even understand today. While they do teach more American history then World histoy I do not think it is harmful. I believe that today kids (starting as early as age 11) are being able to see not just America but the world for what it really is. Expecially today with our expanding technological world, where children as early as 13 are already going off to college. I would say however in the end that teaching American history is not harmful to children.

Answer 5

Well, I guess I just don't know any more what they teach in school, now. When I was in school, I was taught both American and world history. I didn't know it had changed. But, if it has, then I guess I have to say no, I don't think teaching American history is harmful to American children. Everybody needs to be firmly rooted in who they are, what the values of their nation are, and how we as a nation arrived at those values. I think we could do with a little nationalism, thank you very much.

Answer 6

Depends on how that history is taught, doesn't it?
Yes, your question is alarming, because, in essense, you are stating that knowledge of the nation''s history, the processes & events that forged the national identity, is harmful to the expression or understanding of that identity (or in this case one particular expression of that identity-freedom).
By this statement, you've also implied that ingorance will help advance an ideal. This may be true, but if an ideal need ignorance so that it may flourish, how much truth does that ideal contain?
No worthwhile ideal ever needs ingorance as an ally (including Freedom)!
Let's be clear about this;
Teaching the young of about their country's history is vital to maitianing that country's national identity. It provides a framework for understanding how the citizens of the country interact with each other, gives them a basis for understanding each other as well as a context for current events, and provides a guide for joining & participating in the nation's civic life.

This is NOT to say that the history should be whitewashed. all of it needs to be taught, the good as well as the bad.
Also, world history does need to be taught. World history provides yet another context for understanding American history & Americans are woefully ignorant of the rest of the planet.

So, conversely, how does having a sense of national/regional identity/pride harm the "ideal of Americanism-freedom"?

Answer 7

There is a good thing to remember about American History.. America was known and I think still is known as the "great melting/boiling pot" meaning that in essence American History is world history because all cultures have come to America in search of their dreams. Thus to say that American history is dominant is really to say that World History is dominant. I myself, prefer American history, as I am a huge American Civil War buff, but I still realize that most of Americans have heritage outside America.

Answer 8

People who live here, immagrants or not, are still americans. I think it's very important to focus on american history.... even if it isn't always politically correct. We, as humans need to learn from our mistakes and knowing our history is the only way to do that. Besides there are terrible things that have happened all over the world. Do you think they don't teach German history in Germany?

Answer 9

there is a saying, Those who don't know their history are doomed to repeat it. Children should be taught American history, the good, the bad and the ugly. Where care should be taken is to not filter it through the morals and values of the current time, but to better understand the morals and values that existed in the time of whatever event is being taught.

Answer 10

I understand why you would ask this but: American History is not the only course that is needed to graduate. Learning about our nation as well as others is what makes us diverse and able to cope with different nationalities in this country. yes we have flaws and yes there are radicals in every sector of life. It's called freedom :)