4th grade social studies SOL - Robert E Lee Hero of the Confederacy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

Americans don’t want to hear about complicated historical (or current political) figures any more. They want to be told who to cancel and will abide no one who doesn’t do the same. It’s lazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

it's one thing to not attribute redneckism to Lee; it's another to say that he was a hero.

He lead an insurrection. That's called being a traitor. I get that they didn't want to treat him as such in order to heal the country, but he should not be seen as a hero. Only traitors would see him as a hero.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

it's one thing to not attribute redneckism to Lee; it's another to say that he was a hero.

He lead an insurrection. That's called being a traitor. I get that they didn't want to treat him as such in order to heal the country, but he should not be seen as a hero. Only traitors would see him as a hero.

It’s really not that simple, but carry on.

Btw, a hero is in the eye of the beholder. There is no universal hero, and there is no great should or shouldn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

Americans don’t want to hear about complicated historical (or current political) figures any more. They want to be told who to cancel and will abide no one who doesn’t do the same. It’s lazy.

No, we can certainly talk about him and his role in history, BUT we don't need to celebrate him given his treason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

it's one thing to not attribute redneckism to Lee; it's another to say that he was a hero.

He lead an insurrection. That's called being a traitor. I get that they didn't want to treat him as such in order to heal the country, but he should not be seen as a hero. Only traitors would see him as a hero.

It’s really not that simple, but carry on.

Btw, a hero is in the eye of the beholder. There is no universal hero, and there is no great should or shouldn’t.

sure, I mean to many people the people who flew the plane into the tower on 9/11 were "heros". YMMV.

But here in the US, most of us consider them to be terrorists.

That's how many non southerners view Lee.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

it's one thing to not attribute redneckism to Lee; it's another to say that he was a hero.

He lead an insurrection. That's called being a traitor. I get that they didn't want to treat him as such in order to heal the country, but he should not be seen as a hero. Only traitors would see him as a hero.

It’s really not that simple, but carry on.

Btw, a hero is in the eye of the beholder. There is no universal hero, and there is no great should or shouldn’t.

Who considers Robert E Lee a "hero"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

it's one thing to not attribute redneckism to Lee; it's another to say that he was a hero.

He lead an insurrection. That's called being a traitor. I get that they didn't want to treat him as such in order to heal the country, but he should not be seen as a hero. Only traitors would see him as a hero.

It’s really not that simple, but carry on.

Btw, a hero is in the eye of the beholder. There is no universal hero, and there is no great should or shouldn’t.

Who considers Robert E Lee a "hero"?

I haven’t read the book in question, but the title seems to indicate that he was a hero to the confederates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will say this. I had an APS 4th grader just 4 years ago and that paragraph is a decent summary of what she was taught. “He was a gentleman and a loyal Virginian. He didn’t REALLY want to joint the Confederacy but loved VA, etc.” That’s changed now for sure.

That's what I was taught 20+ years ago in APS too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

This is OP. It was not in a NoVA district, further south but won't say more than that. The forum is for VA Public Schools other than FCPS.

Yea, on the webpage DC Urban Moms and Dads- this is generally regarded as a NOVA board. This is not super shocking coming from the south- there are still a lot of confederate flags flying down there, even teachers- I grew up there and its one of many reasons I left.

There are parts of VA where religious education trailers are set up right next to public school campuses and kids spend part of their school day receiving religious indoctrination. It is in theory optional and “private,”, but kids who don’t go are subject to disapproval and bullying. It is in no way a surprise to me that some of these same school districts would fawn over REL.

Really? Where is this? I grew up in the southern half of VA and still have family scattered throughout that area, and I’ve never heard of this.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2005/02/bible-belt-upside-the-head.html

Interesting. I grew up in the Richmond area and have family in the Tidewater and extreme southwest regions of the state, and I’ve never heard of something like this. I don’t think this is widespread thinking throughout ROVA at all. I’m Christian (Methodist), but I wouldn’t feel comfortable having my children participate in a program such as this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the time, Lee was a very well respected person in Virginia. Even after the war they didn't treat him like a traitor because they were trying to heal the country. Lee isn't responsible for every racist redneck in our country. I feel like the longer back in history the easier it is to wrap someone into controversy because of course today that doesn't fly.

it's one thing to not attribute redneckism to Lee; it's another to say that he was a hero.

He lead an insurrection. That's called being a traitor. I get that they didn't want to treat him as such in order to heal the country, but he should not be seen as a hero. Only traitors would see him as a hero.

It’s really not that simple, but carry on.

Btw, a hero is in the eye of the beholder. There is no universal hero, and there is no great should or shouldn’t.

Who considers Robert E Lee a "hero"?

I haven’t read the book in question, but the title seems to indicate that he was a hero to the confederates.

"Robert E. Lee-the pride of Virginia! His military foresight, decisiveness, and ability to inspire greatness in his troops was phenomenal. Not only was he a brilliant Confederate general, he was also a perfect gentleman and loyal Virginian."

Sounds like he's a hero to the author, Carole Marsh.

No need for elementary school kids to read that trash.

[Anonymous]

Lincoln wanted Lee to be his commander. I grew up in a non-Confederate state, and we were taught similar things about Lee. Great general who accepted defeat, alongside Grant who gave Lee's forces an honorable surrender, and Lincoln who said malice towards none. Generally the villains were the people who opposed Reconstruction, which may have included Lee but there were never any specific names attached.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will say this. I had an APS 4th grader just 4 years ago and that paragraph is a decent summary of what she was taught. “He was a gentleman and a loyal Virginian. He didn’t REALLY want to joint the Confederacy but loved VA, etc.” That’s changed now for sure.

That's what I was taught 20+ years ago in APS too

So is this not true any more? Had the schools taught the fake history?

[Anonymous]

I was taught this over 40 years ago in central VA and my oldest (now 13) was taught this in APS. My younger child (2 years behind) was taught a much more complex story with slavery at the center of it. Also in APS. I prefer the new version. It doesn’t paint Lee as a villain. But he’s no hero either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

This is OP. It was not in a NoVA district, further south but won't say more than that. The forum is for VA Public Schools other than FCPS.

Yea, on the webpage DC Urban Moms and Dads- this is generally regarded as a NOVA board. This is not super shocking coming from the south- there are still a lot of confederate flags flying down there, even teachers- I grew up there and its one of many reasons I left.

There are parts of VA where religious education trailers are set up right next to public school campuses and kids spend part of their school day receiving religious indoctrination. It is in theory optional and “private,”, but kids who don’t go are subject to disapproval and bullying. It is in no way a surprise to me that some of these same school districts would fawn over REL.

I'm a Christian and that is disturbing. I'm happy to keep our religious education at home and in Sunday school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Where is this?

Not in NoVA.

Is this OP or just a guess?

This is OP. It was not in a NoVA district, further south but won't say more than that. The forum is for VA Public Schools other than FCPS.

Yea, on the webpage DC Urban Moms and Dads- this is generally regarded as a NOVA board. This is not super shocking coming from the south- there are still a lot of confederate flags flying down there, even teachers- I grew up there and its one of many reasons I left.

There are parts of VA where religious education trailers are set up right next to public school campuses and kids spend part of their school day receiving religious indoctrination. It is in theory optional and “private,”, but kids who don’t go are subject to disapproval and bullying. It is in no way a surprise to me that some of these same school districts would fawn over REL.

Really? Where is this? I grew up in the southern half of VA and still have family scattered throughout that area, and I’ve never heard of this.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2005/02/bible-belt-upside-the-head.html

If you scan down this Facebook page several posts you can see photos of kids walking from their technically off campus (I hope) religious education building back to the school building during the day.

https://www.facebook.com/riverheadswre/

Wow. This really is a thing. 95% of k-5 students!?