On 3/9/06, Sokolow, Daniel <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > Allow me to disagree. I don't think teaching social, socialist, or marxist > history is the key to awakening historical interest. While these are valid > areas of history, it is often the method of teaching that's at fault rather > than the specific subject matter. You can teach people all you want about > Eugene Debs, but if you can't make it interesting, no one will a) remember, > or b) care enough to learn more on their own. Sorry to be coming so late to the party, but work and along with other priorities came first. The whole discussion has been very interesting and i would like to share some information that I came across.l In 2002 the National Assessment of Educational Progress released a survey that showed that nearly 60% of high-school seniors lack a BASIC knowledge of U.S. history. A 1999 survey of seniors at 55 colleges and universities indicated that only 23 % correctly identified James Madison as the principal framer of the Constitution. This information comes from a 2002 column by Don Feder http://shrinkster.com/cwi Feder points out that one reason for this "epidemic of ignorance" is that "schools are so busy telling everyone else's story, there's no time for our own (America's). In 2001 the NEA passed resolutions supporting multicultural and global education, but failed to pass anything that said students should learn about America. A panelist at a forum of the National Council for Social Studies told a teacher who had said her students wanted to learn more about America's past post-Sept 11th "We need to de-exceptionalize the United States. We're just another country and another group of people." Feder also wrote that educrats would prefer to teach niche history since many reject teaching American history as being jingoistic and ethnocentric.. they don't believe that there is a common American story. Another good article to read would be "Anti-Social Studies" by Kay Hymowitz http://shrinkster.com/cwj I have nothing against niche history, but i do believe that in elementary and high schools our students need to learn the big picture. when more space and time is provided to minor players in history rather than the big roles something is out of whack. kids need to get the big picture or what some call the view from 30,000 feet. Once they learn that they can dive into the weeds, but if all we teach is the weeds then they will never truly learn what history is all about. Peterk -- Peter Kurilecz CRM CA Richmond, Va A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org. For the terms of participation, please refer to http://www.archivists.org/listservs/arch_listserv_terms.asp. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] In body of message: SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname *or*: UNSUB ARCHIVES To post a message, send e-mail to [log in to unmask] Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html Problems? Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <[log in to unmask]>