JUMP ON HISTORY BANDWAGON WHILE YOU CAN
By Jeff Schmucker
Atchison Daily Globe, KS
Oct 13 2005
I believe it was Max Lerner who once said, “The so-called lessons of
history are for the most part the rationalizations of the victors.
History is written by the survivors.”
Other arguably more famous people in history have used or paraphrased
this quote, by saying: “History is written by the victors” but the
meaning seems to hold true.
After all, you won’t read many books glorifying the Nazi regime from
World War II because, as many readers probably (and should) know,
they “lost” the war.
But history isn’t just about winners and losers; it tells the story
of where we’ve been and how far we’ve come as a civilization. If we
study it closely, it will also warn us of mistakes best not repeated.
So the question is, if history is so important, why don’t public
schools emphasize teaching it at the same level as English and
mathematics?
With so many tests and standards, teachers seem forced to teach the
curriculum based on ensuring students can pass multiple tests, but
not necessarily whether they are truly learning about the subject.
History isn’t something you can really cram. It’s very encompassing,
and there are many elements surrounding a time period that are needed
to be known to truly understand.
With so many government requirements for teachers, different ethnic
groups are jumping on the history bandwagon by petitioning lawmakers
to ensure the history of their group’s struggles are included in
school history lessons.
According to a story on CNN’s web site called,
“Schools directed to expand history curriculums”
(),
along with studies on the Holocaust, Civil War and slavery, the
Great Depression, segregation and other American history subjects,
groups are also pushing for students in different states to learn
about Cesar Chavez, a farm labor activist, the Irish potato famine,
Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, the Armenian genocide of the early
1900s and other historic events and issues.
When you pile these on top of world history and geography, it’s simple
to see that teachers and students have a full plate before test time.
Then is it any wonder people are ignorant of basic geography and
history?
If you watch Jay Leno’s “Jay Walking,” you’ll see some sad examples
of how easily people forget information they supposedly learned in
grade school.
“Name two states that do not border the United States,” Mr. Leno
asks someone.
“Uh…is it Canada and Mexico,” answers the participant.
Somewhere in the United States, there is a history/geography teacher
clenching his or her fists and asking, “Why do I bother?”
While I know Alaska and Hawaii are the two states not connected to
the other 48 states, there are many historical and geographical facts
that I know I should know, but I’m as ignorant as the thousands or
millions of other people.
And how can we reduce this problem when history happens every day?
I’m sure it was much easier for teachers to teach history before World
War II and onward when more than 50 years of history wasn’t included
in their lesson plans.
There we go again, adding more work for teachers as they were forced to
add World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the civil rights era
and Desert Storm to their list along with other historical information.
So what does or does not get taught?
When Pearl Harbor was attacked on Dec. 7, 1941, by Japanese aircraft,
I bet many people thought, “No one will ever forget this gruesome
day in history.”
Talk to someone in their 20s or even 30s and ask them when Pearl
Harbor was attacked. You may be shocked to discover how many don’t
know. You may be even more shocked to discover how many think Germany
or China was responsible.
Give it a couple of decades and I’m sure people will vaguely remember
9/11. It’ll just be one of those events that happened a long time ago.
So for you parents, teachers and lawmakers who feel certain time
periods should be taught in school, you’d better jump on the history
bandwagon while you can. History is happening and it won’t be too
long before other important events are forgotten.
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Jeff Schmucker, a Globe reporter, can be reached at 367-0583, Ext.
214, or [email protected].