Howard Zinn's book is incredible and essential. I know you people will despise it's harsh truths...but too bad. We can't raise our kids on the false empty notions of American "exceptionalism" and a justifucation for imperialism, war, racism & the widening wealth gap.
Many years ago, as a young man, I read a very interesting book about the rise of the Communists to power in China. In the last chapter, the author tried to explain why and how this had happened.
Among the factors he cited were the country's educators. That struck me as odd, and not very plausible, at the time. But the passing years have made that seem less and less odd, and more and more plausible. Today, I see our own educators playing a similar role in creating a mindset that undermines American society.
Schools were once thought of as places where a...
The issue here, Allison, is what we should teach kids. Objectively, no other country in modern history has surpassed the U.S. in terms of achievement of every kind, including ethical and moral standards. So although we're not perfect, an objective student of history should see the U.S. as the best yet. THEN some proposals for improvement (to include how we avoid mistakes of the past) is very appropriate.
Zinn's book should NOT be taught to kids. They need the basics first.
But even if we take these things at face value, it doesnt hurt kids to get different perspectives. Lord knows they here enough of the conservative POV - that money is the root of happiness, that hard work equals success, that America is great and the moral authority in the world.....
These lies are repeated, and grasped by haters of America. But are lies.
Zinn's book only gains purchase because it's proponents suffer from an essentially American, and Jude--Christian ethic that things can be made better. You cannot do that by lying about how singular America is and has been. But our citizens are being taught otherwise.
As in the old movie, 'Zorba, the Greek', some have just thrown up their hands and given up, and just want to live in the moment. A nihilistic viewpoint that is European.