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 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]> 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]>