Good advice from Peter about using libraries and about the role of 
parents as well as schools in helping to broaden childrens' views and 
to encourage learning about other cultures.   Of course, the parents 
would need to recognize the value of doing that.  If they are 
provincial in outlook, they are much less likely to do that. BTW, Peter 
mentioned books as gifts.  I still ask for books for birthday and 
Christmas presents.   I'm SO easy to buy for, my Mom, my boyfriend, and 
my other friends mostly buy me books!! ;-)

I can't really comment on the proper balance of teaching national 
versus world history at the K-12 levels, since I am not an educator and 
don't know enough about what different states are doing to speak 
authoritatively.  I do feel, however, that there should be a balance 
between the two, which reflects my general centrist tendencies, I 
suppose..

Another List poster mentioned provincialism, which definitely can be a 
problem.  I think the real challenge is in reaching people who stop 
reading after they complete their studies.  And who feel that once they 
reach adulthood, they know everything they need to know.  Former CBS 
foreign correspondent Tom Fenton paints a bleak picture in  his book 
(BAD NEWS) of the lack of international reporting on broadcast news.  I 
always enjoyed watching the late Peter Jennings on ABC World News 
Tonight because he brought his own appreciation for international news 
to the broadcast.

Maarja

-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Kurilecz <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent:         Thu, 16 Mar 2006 20:51:59 -0500
Subject: Re: Teaching History

On 3/16/06, Susan D'Entremont <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> This is very interesting to me.  My daughter loves learning about 
"world
> cultures," and, since transferring to public schools, has been 
wondering
> when she would be able to study it again.

there is nothing stopping her from studying world history on her own.
If she has the passion she will check out what the library has and
what can be in the bookstores. A library card is free and is nothing
more than a license to learn. that's what I did when I was much much
younger. When I was younger I was always asked what I wanted for
Christmas or my birthday, my answer? BOOKS! you can guide her in her
readings.
>
> As part of my job, I recently started talking with teachers about 
what they
> teach.  In New York State, at least on paper, there is definitely a 
lot of
> emphasis on fairly standard U.S. history.  (I don't have any 
complaints
> about this, but my daughter is disappointed.)  What are other 
parents' or
> young archivists' experiences out there in modern day K-12 education?

We must first of all get our kids to know our own history, once that
is done we can encourage them to learn about other cultures. Why do I
say that? Well let me ask a question of this august group. Which
English colony was the first one to be established in America?
Plymouth Colony or Jamestown?
learning our history first leads one to backtrack to where we came
from. Years ago I looked down my nose at genealogists until I started
to do my own research. Each step along the way i learned some more
history. Not ever immigrant came through Ellis Island, but what about
Galveston? or New Orleans?

I've read books on food history because eons ago I learned about the
spice trade. One of the most fascinating books that I've read in
recent years was titled "SALT" and if you haven't read it you should.


What else can you do? Take them to museums, watch and discuss
historical movies, discuss things with them, point out historical
things to them.

those are my thoughts

--
Peter Kurilecz CRM CA
Richmond, Va

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A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List sponsored by the Society of American Archivists, www.archivists.org.
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