Gripe about US history myths taught early on

[Anonymous]

George Washington and the cherry tree, Betsy Ross and the American flag, etc. Reading some preschool materials for this holiday and I am just discouraged by how little fact is involved with early U.S. history. The myth teaches a lesson, sure, but what a lot of time wasted on crap when it could have started out as small facts built upon over time. Instead, we get these myths from which point when the kids get older, they realize it's all been a lie, and their worldview is shattered. I don't understand why we can't just teach the world as it is.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:George Washington and the cherry tree, Betsy Ross and the American flag, etc. Reading some preschool materials for this holiday and I am just discouraged by how little fact is involved with early U.S. history. The myth teaches a lesson, sure, but what a lot of time wasted on crap when it could have started out as small facts built upon over time. Instead, we get these myths from which point when the kids get older, they realize it's all been a lie, and their worldview is shattered. I don't understand why we can't just teach the world as it is.

Explain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:George Washington and the cherry tree, Betsy Ross and the American flag, etc. Reading some preschool materials for this holiday and I am just discouraged by how little fact is involved with early U.S. history. The myth teaches a lesson, sure, but what a lot of time wasted on crap when it could have started out as small facts built upon over time. Instead, we get these myths from which point when the kids get older, they realize it's all been a lie, and their worldview is shattered. I don't understand why we can't just teach the world as it is.

Explain.

+1

[Anonymous]

The world as it is.

You mean according to you?

[Anonymous]

My worldview wasn't shattered when I learned that GW may not have cut down a cherry tree.

[Anonymous]

Not OP but the cherry tree story was made up:
http://edit.mountvernon.org/research-collections/digital-encyclopedia/article/parson-weems/

[Anonymous]

I think these are homilies and folk legends. I don't have a problem with learning about them. I think history is largely subjective any way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think these are homilies and folk legends. I don't have a problem with learning about them. I think history is largely subjective any way.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but the cherry tree story was made up:
http://edit.mountvernon.org/research-collections/digital-encyclopedia/article/parson-weems/

But was your faith in humanity crushed when you learned it was a fable?

[Anonymous]

It's not definitive if Betsy made the first flag:
http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/did-betsy-ross-really-make-the-first-american-flag

[Anonymous]

If your kid's worldview is shattered when they learn that George Washington didn't cut down the cherry tree, you have failed as a parent.

[Anonymous]

The one that bothers me is that Rosa Parks sat down because she was old and tired. Actually she was young, and part of an organized campaign of civil disobedience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The one that bothers me is that Rosa Parks sat down because she was old and tired. Actually she was young, and part of an organized campaign of civil disobedience.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these are homilies and folk legends. I don't have a problem with learning about them. I think history is largely subjective any way.

This.

Agree
I get what op is saying though