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a la izquierda

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57. Oh, you can absolutely hide behind the mythical idea of history...

Tue Mar 27, 2012, 04:07 PM

Mar 2012

I did grad work in an extremely conservative state, and my students simply refused to acknowledge anything that didn't toe the mythological "US is great and infallible" line.
I now teach in a more cosmopolitan state, with college students who have a much more diverse upbringing, and they're more willingly to put myths aside.
I teach Latin America. I do a whole lot of myth-busting. But even armed with documents to prove what I teach, some people simply do not acknowledge historians as anything other than left-wing propagandists.

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This book changed me from being a "conservative" to a "liberal".... [View all] matmar Mar 2012 OP

What makes you think that they aren't being exposed to this and similar works? MadHound Mar 2012 #1

If they are now, then great. matmar Mar 2012 #2

I suppose it depends upon where your kids go to school, MadHound Mar 2012 #4

I think that's fantastic. n/t matmar Mar 2012 #8

the several teachers that you know SemperEadem Mar 2012 #3

Thank you for being condescending, MadHound Mar 2012 #5

you might want to go back and read your first post iverglas Mar 2012 #15

That's not nearly confrontational enough Cirque du So-What Mar 2012 #26

you're quite welcome SemperEadem Mar 2012 #44

I cannot imagine teachers being able to assign Chomsky... a la izquierda Mar 2012 #6

I can, MadHound Mar 2012 #10

Oh, you can absolutely hide behind the mythical idea of history... a la izquierda Mar 2012 #57

They'd burn a teacher at the stake for teaching Chomsky where I live Papagoose Mar 2012 #30

Yikes! a la izquierda Mar 2012 #56

History, as it SHOULD ALWAYS be told... from the people... MrMickeysMom Mar 2012 #7

The Wobblies strikes were family lore for me. dixiegrrrrl Mar 2012 #36

It would depend on how flexible the district is. jerseyjack Mar 2012 #9

I would guess that in wealthy conservative school districts there isn't much "teaching" matmar Mar 2012 #11

I'd actually expect the reverse caraher Mar 2012 #16

Not just wealthy ones nxylas Mar 2012 #31

Also, another great author in this regard is... ananda Mar 2012 #12

Thanks for the book titles.... matmar Mar 2012 #13

Good question. ananda Mar 2012 #19

I am also a big fan of Steinbeck Bainbridge Bear Mar 2012 #29

"it's one thing to be brain-smart; it's another entirely to be heart-smart." dixiegrrrrl Mar 2012 #37

I had no idea! onlyadream Mar 2012 #14

Howard Zinn is awesome! Can read book online ProgressiveATL Mar 2012 #17

"Lies my teacher told me" zipplewrath Mar 2012 #18

I have that, I'll have to read the Zinn books arthritisR_US Mar 2012 #34

When I was in college I kept dropping my American History required course lunatica Mar 2012 #20

Kinda my background zipplewrath Mar 2012 #39

Our school district grntuscarora Mar 2012 #21

So glad it did that! Conservatives HATE .... SamG Mar 2012 #22

Here is my experience with teaching Zinn types of history. The Midway Rebel Mar 2012 #23

Somehow I am not surprised. Thanks arthritisR_US Mar 2012 #35

Ha! zipplewrath Mar 2012 #38

You're not the only one!! Joseph8th Mar 2012 #24

Matt Damon gives the book a plug in "Good Will Hunting". canoeist52 Mar 2012 #25

It was briefly mentioned in 'The Sopranos' as well. In the educational context, actually RZM Mar 2012 #40

It's too bad that this is illegal in Arizona now - all ethnic studies are illegal there now. yardwork Mar 2012 #27

I too want to heap praise upon Howard Zinn's book Cirque du So-What Mar 2012 #28

Spot on. nt raouldukelives Mar 2012 #33

thanks for the link hfojvt Mar 2012 #41

Love that book. What were the issues that turned you from a conservative to a lib? nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2012 #32

The issues? Having my eyes opened as to who represents who in society. matmar Mar 2012 #45

Oh yes - Thom Hartmann is an amazing person. I learn a lot from him. nt Sarah Ibarruri Mar 2012 #47

Another great author: www.michaelparenti.org got root Mar 2012 #42

I was already a progressive, a self-proclaimed socialist hfojvt Mar 2012 #43

ADULTS need a serious reeducation in history loyalsister Mar 2012 #46

I was especially informed by the history of the unions contained in the book. cilla4progress Mar 2012 #48

READ it ONLINE here: freshwest Mar 2012 #49

Or buy it here: freshwest Mar 2012 #50

Download the pdf here: greyl Mar 2012 #53

I already did, but thought some might want to hold it. Some use Kindle, too, but I don't. freshwest Mar 2012 #54

Me as well donheld Mar 2012 #51

A Peoples History of the United States burrowowl Mar 2012 #52

K&R Marginalized Historic Figures DianaForRussFeingold Mar 2012 #55