Son is learning about India and Pakistan's history but no mention of Bangladesh

[Anonymous]

My (Indian) child did not learn about India or Pakistan in elementary or middle schools. As far as I remember, the only representative country from Asia was China, and that was back in... 4th grade? My understanding is that they will not learn anything about any world history, unless they choose to take AP World History, and even then, what is covered, is covered very superficially (per someone whose kid has taken it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP, but it's already a huge step that they are even learning about India and Pakistan in elementary. Would not have happened a generation ago.

But four generations ago they'd need to be able to name its principal exports and imports in order to pass an eighth grade graduation exam. Geography was pretty hard core back in the early 1900s.

But they were also taught that brown-skinned people were inferior to white-skinned people

[Anonymous]

I teach middle schoolers. There are rarely engaging secular age appropriate materials about Muslim majority countries. I can get two out of the three by joining a handful of organizations dedicated to teaching about Islamic culture and history. I have to pay for membership or materials because my district won’t. When it comes to South Asia, I mostly teach about India but I do address multiple world religions there (Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Christianity). Sometimes, parents give me materials that I can’t use because they are meant to teach doctrine. It’s a tightrope.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure that failing to teach a detailed overview of the origin story of enough countries in the world such that Bangladesh would be covered is a legitimate criticism of k-5/6 grade education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sympathize, OP, but it's already a huge step that they are even learning about India and Pakistan in elementary. Would not have happened a generation ago.

But four generations ago they'd need to be able to name its principal exports and imports in order to pass an eighth grade graduation exam. Geography was pretty hard core back in the early 1900s.

But they were also taught that brown-skinned people were inferior to white-skinned people

No. Your post is incorrect and inflammatory. Don't do that. Are you making the Internet a better place or a worse place with your posts?

[Anonymous]

Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

Why don't you ask your kid what he learned?

[Anonymous]

Isn't it great that they are now teaching about some of the major SA countries. Its about time for American kids to improve their geography. You can use this as an opportunity to broaden their horizons and teach about other countries as well. They can use their new knowledge to create a presentation for their class or at least a display board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

OP, they are not going to cover every country and every religion. My kids class covered world history in 3rd and/or 5th grade. They discussed the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Indians, Chinese, and Sudan. They learned the very basics of the government, religion, and history of each group.

Your kid is not being converted to a different religion or culture. This is personal to you because you understand the history and sensitivities of the region since you live it. Your kids teacher probably knows little to nothing more than what is in the canned curriculum she is handed.

Most Americans will not know how Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India are connected. They just don’t. I would guess that is true for a good number of Europeans and probably Asians who are not from that region.

I wouldn’t attend a school in Bangladesh and expect them to be able to discuss the US and Mexican history surrounding Texas and California.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

Why don't you ask your kid what he learned?

I did and he told me when another child brought up Islam the teacher said they couldn't speak about that religion in school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

You say potato I say potato

Yes, she doesn’t know. That is correct. I am from South Asia, but I realize we are in a Western country, which historically has identified more with Europe than with Asia or Africa. Schools are trying to do a little better now, but it is what it is. And for the average American, it probably makes sense given the world context and how much sheer material there is to get through.

Volunteer to go in and share about Bangladesh. I’m sorry, OP, Bangladesh as a topic is going to be a lesson in a unit on Pakistan, maybe not even India if you’re not getting too detailed.

You can look up the learning indicators online to see the key concepts they will learn.

Why won’t you say what school system this is, even though multiple people have asked? You would get much better responses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

Why don't you ask your kid what he learned?

I did and he told me when another child brought up Islam the teacher said they couldn't speak about that religion in school.

OP, I now think you’re a troll. Clearly, this would have been the point to start with in your post. I bet the teacher didn’t say that. If they did, that would have been the lead, not a post about how Bangladesh isn’t included and they talked about other religions (which began in S Asia) but not Islam (which did not).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't it great that they are now teaching about some of the major SA countries. Its about time for American kids to improve their geography. You can use this as an opportunity to broaden their horizons and teach about other countries as well. They can use their new knowledge to create a presentation for their class or at least a display board.

As an immigrant, I strongly disagree. Elementary school is the time to teach children about the history of the country they are living in. PERIOD.

Learn about Asia in High School and college. If you’re an immigrant, who do desires to, teach it at home. But American kids need to learn about America and its history before they start to learn about world history.

Do you think they teach Bangladeshi history in Japanese elementary schools?
This is crazy!

[Anonymous]

You are lucky that any Geography is being taught. Most schools in the US do not teach Geography at all. Geography is a good area for any family to supplement at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi, I am the op. I am frustrated because his teacher won't give me any details. I expressed my concerns and she told me she doesn't write the lesson plans and can't do anything except email my concerns. She could have helped me understand more about what they were learning. Are they learning about Islam for example? Her answer was so robotic as if she doesn't know what they are learning and doesn't care.

Why don't you ask your kid what he learned?

I did and he told me when another child brought up Islam the teacher said they couldn't speak about that religion in school.

OP, I now think you’re a troll. Clearly, this would have been the point to start with in your post. I bet the teacher didn’t say that. If they did, that would have been the lead, not a post about how Bangladesh isn’t included and they talked about other religions (which began in S Asia) but not Islam (which did not).

Op again. I didn't know this information until this morning when I asked him if they teach about Islam at school. His answer was no but Adrian talked about it one day and the teacher said we don't talk about religions in schools because our school is secular. He's only 7. He made it seem the kid was bringing it up in relation to the geography lesson. It does seem the school touches on the origins of religion but I am still getting confirmation from the school. Someone who is in charge of the curriculum is going to help me.