Nephew's school assignment-what do you think?

[JennyMominRI]

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Ditto on the "Lies My Teacher Told Me" recommendation. Fabulous book - very eye opening but entertaining enough to keep the interest of those who really aren't all that into history.

Have you read the sequel Lies Across America?

 

[Wishing on a star]

Having taught middle school for close to 30 years, I have found that the information I teach now is different in nature than what I used to teach. My approach to literature is more intense, I look for more higher order thinking skills on the part of my students - and higher order thinking, which many kids do not actively use, leads to topics similar in nature to the Columbus one.

So, this is what is being taught/expected of our 10-14 year olds....

And, I just saw the segment on ABC news about how our Middle School children are now completely failing the grade at basic academic skills.

Ohhhhh, I just wonder why??????

 

[Crankyshank]

Have you read the sequel Lies Across America?

I actually read it first. What a rude awakening that was

 

[Buckalew11]

History. Hmm...how does one know what to believe? Sadly, I never even had much history in school. Somewhere along the way I guess I was a class that our history classes fell through the cracks.

And what about when something like the War in Iraq is written about? How many sides of the story could there be? A republican's, a democrat's...
What a confusing issue.
I liked what RobinRS and Jenz had to say though.

 

[paigevz]

Actually Tiffer- presenting this topic to middle school students is not out of the question - as you did say, it is the manner in which the question is phrased. Having taught middle school for close to 30 years, I have found that the information I teach now is different in nature than what I used to teach. My approach to literature is more intense, I look for more higher order thinking skills on the part of my students - and higher order thinking, which many kids do not actively use, leads to topics similar in nature to the Columbus one.

And as to the Holocaust - our sixth graders read "Freidrich" which is such an incredible approach to the Holocaust. Not graphic in terms of death, it is a young boy's view of what is going on around him.

I JUST read that last week...........powerful book.............

 

[JennyMominRI]

History. Hmm...how does one know what to believe? Sadly, I never even had much history in school. Somewhere along the way I guess I was a class that our history classes fell through the cracks.

And what about when something like the War in Iraq is written about? How many sides of the story could there be? A republican's, a democrat's...
What a confusing issue.
I liked what RobinRS and Jenz had to say though.

I look for primary source evidence,but even that isn't perfect.

 

[Cindy B]

My kids have been learning about the Holacaust since the 2nd grade. It is reality and they know about it at a very early age.

My son read the Devils Arithmetic for his summer reading prior to 6th grade. There is a huge display of student work as it relates to this history period in my sons middle school. I live in a very predominately Jewish town so it is part of the town heritage so to speak.

As for the assignment, I would have done it for the middle school or even high school students. The higher level thinking is very important with all students. I see higher level thinking even in the elementary age. I prompt it with many questions... I am always asking students --Why do you think that? What is your opinion? especially when it comes from complex issues like this.

I don't think a hate filled letter accomplished what the teacher wanted.

 

[poohandwendy]

Kinda lost me after "write a nasty letter'...what a negative way to start any assignment. No matter what the subject. How about 'write a letter expressing your opinion of xyz'?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Another interesting source is called "Assume the Position" with Robert Wuhl. It was filmed for HBO.

It exposes your basic "myths" of history and explains the notorious line..."Print the Legend" of which I had no idea until I watched this.
It is the "Cliff's Notes" version of some of our basic history.

As far as the 4th grade assignment...not appropriate for 4th grade!

 

[Cindy B]

Another interesting source is called "Assume the Position" with Robert Wuhl. It was filmed for HBO.

It exposes your basic "myths" of history and explains the notorious line..."Print the Legend" of which I had no idea until I watched this.
It is the "Cliff's Notes" version of some of our basic history.

As far as the 4th grade assignment...not appropriate for 4th grade!

I;ve heard great things about Assume the Position. I'll have to see if I can get it from Blockbuster online.

If you can get past the language, Penn and Teller's Bull show is very eyeopening as well. Some of it has to do with history, some just popular thoughts.

 

[CEDmom]

I would definitely be addressing an assignment like this with the teacher. What exactly is the purpose? I haven't been in a history class in many years, so pardon my stupidity, but is there evidence that this is even true?

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

I am appalled that the school has endorsed this assignment. I would have preferred that my DD take a zero for this assignment, we are not raising her to treat people with nastiness or disrespect. I realize that Christopher Columbus is dead, but just the tone of this assignment is uncalled for.

 

[lovingthemouse]

So, this is what is being taught/expected of our 10-14 year olds....

And, I just saw the segment on ABC news about how our Middle School children are now completely failing the grade at basic academic skills.

Ohhhhh, I just wonder why??????

Certainly what I said could not possibly be the reason that many middle school students are not towing the mark! I have very high expectations of my students and many of them rise to that level! No, what is being taught and expected of our 11-14 yr olds (I don't teach 10 yr olds) is to value what they learn, be responsible young people, learn to work effectively with others, and become an integral part of a learning group! It may not always be successful, but this is surely what my and countless other classrooms instill in them.

BTW, I am not familiar with the books you have mentioned, but I plan to check them out at the library. Thanks.

 

[Moustermind]

And, I just saw the segment on ABC news about how our Middle School children are now completely failing the grade at basic academic skills.

Ohhhhh, I just wonder why??????

Actually, I would be careful to quote anything ABC in particular says about public education in America. They have shown time and again that they are more than willing to ignore truthful and accurate facts and figures in favor of slanting fallacious information in a way that benefits their own agenda, and makes their stories on public education more sensational. For a less biased, more accurate reflection of facts and figures relating to public education see the writings of Dr. Gerald W. Bracey, an educational pyschologist and analyst who has been critical of the new media, and able to back up his claims with hard facts.

Citing widely used media claims that America is doind a terrible job of educating our children, Dr. Bracey has been able to consistently show how the media has distorted test scores, and frequently ignored verifiable facts that do not fit into the narrow range that they are trying to portray in a sensationalized story.

Dr. Bracey has shown that among the top 32 industrialized nations, all of whom have smaller populations than ours, we rank 16th in math and science together. He asserts that were the press to compare the US and one other country who ranked below us they would word the report as "This country came in ranked second! US is next to last."

 

[Crankyshank]

I haven't been in a history class in many years, so pardon my stupidity, but is there evidence that this is even true?

There's no undesputed evidence this is correct, but Columbus was believed to have been a slave trader for the Portuguese before he sailed to the new world and slavery was big business back then. Did he go specifically to find slaves? probably not - but it was one of the things he was looking for. There's also a belief that he considered his voyage a religious quest given to him by God.
To put it in perspective for the time - almost everyone owned slaves and the slave trade was just as essential from an economical stance as spices and silks.

 

[noodleknitter]

Writing a negative letter to anyone is not an appropriate 4th grade assignment.

It will be interesting to see what is taught about history in 20 years. Seems it is always changing, with each group feeling strongly for their version. Hope people will learn someday that there is more than one perspective for any situation.

 

[Wishing on a star]

There's no undesputed evidence this is correct, but Columbus was believed to have been a slave trader for the Portuguese before he sailed to the new world and slavery was big business back then. Did he go specifically to find slaves? probably not - but it was one of the things he was looking for. There's also a belief that he considered his voyage a religious quest given to him by God.
To put it in perspective for the time - almost everyone owned slaves and the slave trade was just as essential from an economical stance as spices and silks.

I agree.

Columbus was driven by a desire to sail and explore the world. It is my understanding that he was always looking to the powers that be to finance his efforts. If they wanted spices, he was 'looking for spices' if they wanted slaves 'he was looking for slaves'.

I would seriously question the premise that Columbus himself had any personal interests in enslaving others.

Slavery was part of the world economics at that time, and kings and countries were the ones who should be held accountable.

EDITED to add:
PS: either these academic test scores are low, or they are not. Using semantics, and attacking the messenger, does nothing to change the test scores. I just checked, and the test scores were from more than one study. The ones mentioned were a study done by the Rand Corporation. They show a "steep drop" in these middle school test scores. It is no surprise that if the assignment mentioned, and the objectives/methods mentioned, are what is being taught to these children, then I do not have to wonder why.

 

[smartestnumber5]

I agree that writing a nasty letter seems very strange--how is that supposed to be helpful in learning history? Did it have to be a "nasty" letter? Or could it just be a letter?

I don't really have a good sense of what would be age appropriate. I generally favor not sugar coating--I feel like as a kid I was able to handle knowledge of bad in the world. I do, though, remember that in 5th grade we were split into "northerners" and "southerners" and asked to debate about whether slavery should exist around the time of the civil war. I think at that point we hadn't really been taught about federalism or states rights, so it pretty much ended up with the "northerners" shouting about the inhumanity of slavery and the "southerners" talking about economics. It didn't really seem to be very helpful in teaching us anything, and while of course it's important to understand the reasons why horrendous practices occurred, I didn't really understand how the debate helped. I mean, understanding is one thing, but why ask 10 year olds to try to justify somethng so horrendous?

Minus the nasty letter thing, I do think it's a good idea not to sugar coat the whole Columbus thing and to point out the factual problems with claiming he "discovered" the New World. I think the same is true of the treatment of Lincoln, the Civil War, and the emancipation of slaves. In elementary school they present it as if Lincoln was just this wonderful man who followed his conscience to end slavery. Then came AP history in high school suddenly you actually get to read what the Emancipation Proclamation actually said and suddenly Lincoln doesn't seem like this amazing man of conscience anymore, but instead like the politician that he was who had to exercise his conscience within the contraints of politics. Clearly, 5th graders aren't going to be able to understand this kind of stuff, so I'm not saying it should be taught to them. I just think there shouldn't be sugar coating--just honesty tempered for the grade level.

 

[Crankyshank]

I don't think anyone here is advocating sugar coating. The consensus of those expressing concern seems to be that the issue is far too complex for a 10yr old to be able to handle.

 

[noodleknitter]

I agree that writing a nasty letter seems very strange--how is that supposed to be helpful in learning history? Did it have to be a "nasty" letter? Or could it just be a letter?

I just think there shouldn't be sugar coating--just honesty tempered for the grade level.

I agree.