Our public schools once had history and geography courses. These two subjects were dropped and replaced with social studies. In social studies our children are taught about different cultures - very little United States history or world geography. As a result, our children know not where they are in time or place.
Very, very true. I was a child in the public school when this change was beginning in the late 50s and early 60s. I saw it happen. History and geography were turned into junk. Now everybody's acts surprised when Americans don't know any geography or history, and nobody can figure out why. It's because neither subject has been taught in the schools for years (especially geography), that's why. Such a mystery!
Sort of like why can't kids read nowadays, when the schools refuse to teach phonics. During the early years of my schooling, using phonics, virtually every kid learned to read. Over the same period I cited earlier, phonics was gradually phased out in my school except in the classes of the older teachers who kept their old materials and refused to stop using phonics because they knew how well it works. Over those same years, more and more students (those who weren't lucky enough to have the older teachers) had trouble learning to read. Another big mystery!
Very, very true. I was a child in the public school when this change was beginning in the late 50s and early 60s. I saw it happen. History and geography were turned into junk. Now everybody's acts surprised when Americans don't know any geography or history, and nobody can figure out why. It's because neither subject has been taught in the schools for years (especially geography), that's why. Such a mystery!
Sort of like why can't kids read nowadays, when the schools refuse to teach phonics. During the early years of my schooling, using phonics, virtually every kid learned to read. Over the same period I cited earlier, phonics was gradually phased out in my school except in the classes of the older teachers who kept their old materials and refused to stop using phonics because they knew how well it works. Over those same years, more and more students (those who weren't lucky enough to have the older teachers) had trouble learning to read. Another big mystery!