Henry Ford said that history was bunk only the future mattered becasue we have the power to shape the future. With this in mind should we discourage our sons and daughters from studying history and take a more useful A level.
It seems that the subject is on the slide at school.
2007-11-20 04:24:21 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in News & Events ➔ Other - News & Events
A lot of things can be learned from looking at the mistakes of the past.
2007-11-20 04:30:01 · answer #1 · answered by Jon Soundman 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
History is only bunk to those who refuse to learn from it--we may be able to shape our future, but it is history that supplies the material for its shaping. It is arrogance to claim only the now is important. If it were, then there would be no vigilance in the prevention of another Holocaust, no voices to clamor against the possibiity of yet another bloody dictatorship--no wariness when another President arbitrarily claims the need to intervene in another country. Perhaps that lack of perspective from Vietnam is what led to Iraq, and national amnesia the reason why Imelda Marcos can still happily collect her designer shoes.
History isn't about names and dates, it's about blood and courage and cowardice and mistakes that have changed where we are today. Maybe what should change is the way it is taught, but if the debate is on its usefulness, then I think there is no other way better suited to preparing the next generation for the future than by telling the story of the past.
2007-11-20 10:39:13 · answer #2 · answered by Patricia Evangelista 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what part of history, it`s a large subject, I think everyone should know about the 2 world wars then hopefully there won`t be a 3rd, I liked learning about the past monarchs at school although that didn`t get me a job, history should be kept as a subject what else could there be to replace it. How did you know Henry Ford said history was bunk if you hadn`t read it somewhere, that quotation is a bit of history
2007-11-20 04:39:16 · answer #3 · answered by bud 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Henry Ford was not only a determined and brilliant engineer, he was also a jackass in a great many ways. The quote you gave is but one example.
I am a professional historian - and probably the only one in the world employed full-time by a private company to research, write about, and interpret maritime history. I see constant examples of the value of history to not only daily life, but also to shaping and contributing to the future as well as to enriching each person's sense of self.
The study of history certainly shaped the future United Kingdom - Gibbon, Macauley and Carlyle all saw to that. Alfred Thayer Mahan's great historical work on sea power created our modern navies and laid the foundation of naval doctrine today.
Studying history well should have shown the United States that invading Iraq - especially for flawed public and non-public reasons - was a terrible idea.
And in a world that is going to have to adapt very old levels of technology to reduce pollution, global warming, and other environmental damage, an understanding of history is absolutely vital. Not only have many excellent ideas and techniques been abandoned that must be resurrected, but also history can explain how to avoid the many problems of conflict that are now escalating as a result of greater pressure on our planet's resources.
Last week i spent a day at a local secondary school lecturing students in science, history, and language nclasses. Each got a tailored presentation using my own work to create a connection between the artifacts and knowledge of the past with the present. All of the students were engaged and exceited.
If there's a problem with students in schools studying history - to be honest, it's a problem with HOW history is taught. It's a GREAT story, dynamic and exciting, and full of wonderful things!
2007-11-20 04:51:30 · answer #4 · answered by Der Lange 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes and no !
The writers of history always tell the story how they want it perceived. Study history of Britain in another country and the story changes. Its the same or every other nation too.
History is full of intrigue and lies, half truths, exaggerations and blind allies to confuse and disguise what really happened.
The history of the Anglo Boer War from the side of an Afrikaner is quite different to that of a British person. When you hear both sides you'd imagine they were two different conflicts.
The victors version is usually the one touted about most.
2007-11-21 10:32:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
History can be useful to know but what's the sense in knowing the past mistakes when they only get repeated. How much of history is fact and how much has been left out? We all know about B. Clinton and his ordeal but what about B. Franklin, was he any better? I never learnt anything negative about Franklin, he was a wonderful president but what about his personal life? Did we hear about that, like Clinton's? Prohibition and alcohol.........a history mistake. Cigarettes today, sounds like a repeat. Propaganda is what made pot illegal............it causes crime. Personally, I don't think History should be a subject you must pass, in order to graduate from high school. Knowing who discovered America never got me a job. Knowing History can be important, depending on the type of job you want to pursue.
2007-11-20 06:39:34 · answer #6 · answered by *sunshine 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Some history is a good thing, actually seeing history is a good thing, but not everyone feels the need to crowd the brain with things in the past when clearly that space is need for tomorrow.
I liked a little history in school, but learned more by seeing and with my daughter's, I just want them to make a passing grade so that they had more time for the other classes.
I believe history should be like a music class, everyone needs to experience it, but not everyone wants to explore it further, it should be a choice.
2007-11-20 04:42:58 · answer #7 · answered by Sandie B 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have found that knowing you history can help form your future. From history you can learn by histories mistakes and know how and when to stop things repeating themselves from the past. Fashion revolves and so does history in some way or another it is just a different interpretation.
2007-11-20 04:33:06 · answer #8 · answered by betty 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Henry Ford was also a rabid anti-Semite.
Few of the subjects your children learn at school will have direct relevance to the real world. That's not the point.
2007-11-20 04:37:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Read this. To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.For what is worth of human life unless it is woven into the life of our ancestors by the records of history
2007-11-20 04:38:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋