Anonymous wrote:

It's too true. I don't know the AP history curriculum, but 2nd graders used to spend an entire year studying Mali. That's right. Mali. Not Greece or Italy or anywhere anything important ever happened, not the beginnings of civilization, not the origin of our own culture or language, not anyplace important today, but Mali. It's just historical affirmative action. Poor disadvantaged Mali is just as worthy of our attention as the great civilizations of the world. The kids didn't of course learn about the problems of poverty and lack of education there, or about religious and ethnic conflict, but rather had to learn about traditional clothing and food and musical instruments, as though Mali is some center of culture and art. Gag.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:No matter what Christopher Columbus did, it was his exploration which opened up the New World. Sure, it would have happened anyway, but this is when it really started.

Fine. Great explorer, terrible person. Why only mention the first fact?

so you think third graders should be told his men all raped the Indian women?

NP - I think the point is you can't "pick and choose" history.

such a thing as time and place appropriateness though for teaching the facts

You can still teach in an age appropriate way. Not teaching or hiding the facts is not acceptable.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Not limited to private school. AP US History book is more sociology than history. Every chapter talks about the role of women and minorities to the point where important events are left out.

History is not just a list of events. History is also what people did and how they lived. And most of humanity consists of women and minorities..

Over-exaggerating accomplishments to be "diverse" and ignoring major historical accomplishments because they were accomplished by old white guys isn't teaching history. It is skewing facts to make a statement and does a disservice to everyone.

Please give a specific example from the AP US History curriculum that overexaggerates accomplishments to be diverse and ignores major historical accomplishments because they were accomplished by old white guys. Actually two specific examples would be great, but one will suffice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I understand that was intentional to avoid talking about the Vietnam war-- history ended at WWII.


An additional benefit of ending history at World War II is that you also don't have to talk about the Korean War.

It has always been that way. Not intentional. Time driven.

One of my favorite history classes was a high school class titled "US History After 1945". We learned about Vietnam, Korea, the civil rights movement, Watergate. It felt so much more relevant than learning about the details of the Revolution. It was an elective, though, not required.

Of course my mom (born in 1950) was horrified that those events were considered "history".

Anonymous wrote:

I understand that was intentional to avoid talking about the Vietnam war-- history ended at WWII.


An additional benefit of ending history at World War II is that you also don't have to talk about the Korean War.

It has always been that way. Not intentional. Time driven.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No matter what Christopher Columbus did, it was his exploration which opened up the New World. Sure, it would have happened anyway, but this is when it really started.

Fine. Great explorer, terrible person. Why only mention the first fact?

so you think third graders should be told his men all raped the Indian women?

NP - I think the point is you can't "pick and choose" history.

such a thing as time and place appropriateness though for teaching the facts

I grew up in the south.....where history classes ended at the civil war. Do with that what you will...

I understand that was intentional to avoid talking about the Vietnam war-- history ended at WWII.


An additional benefit of ending history at World War II is that you also don't have to talk about the Korean War.

Anonymous wrote:I understand that was intentional to avoid talking about the Vietnam war-- history ended at WWII.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not limited to private school. AP US History book is more sociology than history. Every chapter talks about the role of women and minorities to the point where important events are left out.

History is not just a list of events. History is also what people did and how they lived. And most of humanity consists of women and minorities..

Over-exaggerating accomplishments to be "diverse" and ignoring major historical accomplishments because they were accomplished by old white guys isn't teaching history. It is skewing facts to make a statement and does a disservice to everyone.

Please give a specific example from the AP US History curriculum that overexaggerates accomplishments to be diverse and ignores major historical accomplishments because they were accomplished by old white guys. Actually two specific examples would be great, but one will suffice.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Not limited to private school. AP US History book is more sociology than history. Every chapter talks about the role of women and minorities to the point where important events are left out.

History is not just a list of events. History is also what people did and how they lived. And most of humanity consists of women and minorities..

Over-exaggerating accomplishments to be "diverse" and ignoring major historical accomplishments because they were accomplished by old white guys isn't teaching history. It is skewing facts to make a statement and does a disservice to everyone.