Teaching History

"If I had a chance to direct where money would be applied to improve teaching history in our schools, I would concentrate on grade school - third, fourth, fifth, sixth grade - because that's the time that they want to know."

David McCullough - historian and author

As regular readers of my blogging know I am a strong advocate of teaching "history" in our schools not today's watered-down form of history that exists within the "social studies" coursework. Why? Because when students have a solid understanding of the past it allows them to not only better understand today's world it also helps them to place the latest "crisis" such as -- obesity, global warming, Avian bird flu, health care insurance........... -- into a more rational context that goes beyond emotion and left-wing political agendas.

For instance -- if our grade school students had read several books regarding the Great Depression I am confident they would not share Al Gore's doomsday worldview nor would they accept John Edwards' "two Americas" stump speeches. Yes Mr. Edwards -- there are two Americas, your America where everyone except elitists like you require government "help" and the America that I love where everyone takes care of themselves and their families as best as they can but failing that we provide a societal safety net based on private charity and good neighbor relations NOT government programs.

The simple fact is that the world we live in today IS better, much better than the past but how many students (or adults even?) have any inkling that is the case? We need and must do better educating our fellow citizens about these things or the "State" will grow large enough to affect every aspect of our lives.

Read widely and read constantly,

Todd

Sandaligerula

While attending a conference in London years ago my friend Dr. Sean Gabb (giving the inventor credit here) created the word -- "hyperbibliophilia" -- which is the condition where someone continues to buy books even though they have not read the books they currently own.

I suffered from this condition for years and still fight it especially when I read reviews of books such as this one --

"Working IX to V - Orgy Planners, Funeral Clowns, and Other Prized Professions of the Ancient World"

by Vicki Leon

This book's focus is on the "behind the scenes" (my phrase) jobs of the workers and slaves that supported the leisure life in ancient Greece and Rome - fascinating stuff for nerdy historians like myself :-)

So does the job of "sandaligerula" interest you? This person's job was rather specific -- they had to ensure their mistress was wearing the proper shoes at all times. I am very thankful my wife can do this job for herself!!! (forgive me)

Todd