Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: ProtectOurFreedom

I agree. However, it may inspire some 7th graders to seek further historical data. In that way, I believe such things have a place: stoking the interest of the young in a way that is useful. Middle school history teachers the nation over would do well to take a tack similar to this, without the foul language, because the dry and precise language bores the children and causes them to shy away from what is a truly fascinating study. The dry stuff can be introduced for more exact understanding when they have gotten a taste for the knowledge, say, in their freshman year of high school or so. Use the tool for what it is worth, I say. Just a mind-whetter.


63 posted on 01/13/2013 8:41:09 PM PST by Celtacia
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies ]


To: Celtacia

History can be exciting even without vulgar profanity and discussion of genitalia. That was a huge turn-off and I feel sorry for people who need that to make a discussion remotely interesting.

History as taught in schools is dreadful and the books are horribly tedious. I hated it. As an adult, I began reading history books dedicated to a single topic and biographies which bring history alive. The problem is such grand books would be hard to incorporate into a general HS history curriculum.

I also think it takes a few decades of life to begin thinking about people who lived in the past as real people with real human thoughts and emotions. For most teenagers, the only time that exists is NOW...there is no past other than what you experienced with your family, church, school or sports. It’s like dogs...as soon as something is out of sight, it simply ceases to exist.

I see lately that people are trying to create entirely new approaches to history and teaching of Western Civilization that may have some success — kind of like a Khan Academy for Freedom and Liberty. I hope these succeed.


65 posted on 01/13/2013 9:10:13 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 63 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson