There have been numerous efforts to limit students’ access to books and curricula about certain historical and societal topics. But history itself shows democracy suffers when people are uninformed.
  • sin_free_for_00_days@lemmy.one
    5·
    1 year ago

    Every high school I’ve taught at, or that’s been in the same district, has shit History departments. Usually one, or two at most, dedicated history majors teaching. The other “history” teachers are coaches. We know how much the US cares about their stupid sports teams.

    This has been going on since I was in school decades ago, and definitely continued throughout my career. I’ve watched teachers pulling their team kids into little discussions where they talk about some bullshit game that they had or are about to have. I’ve watched these idiot jocks get pulled out of academic classes to go to games on a weekly, or more , basis.

    The decades of shit education in civics and history, coupled with obvious conveying of shit values, has definitely led to a nation of ignorant assholes. The scary thing is, this is something that will take a decade at least to fix, when/if the schools ever recognize the problem. Too late.

    • ArtZuron@beehaw.org
      2·
      1 year ago

      Exactly this. The most dangerous two minorities in the country (fascists and the rich) don’t want a strong democracy.

    • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.ca
      1·
      1 year ago

      Nine out of 10 high schoolers who filled out a 2018 Southern Poverty Law Center survey failed to recognize slavery as the Civil War’s central cause

      It’s definitely intentional.

  • RichByy@beehaw.org
    1·
    1 year ago

    You’d believe that’s different in Germany. Unfortunately the education about the world wars in general requires drastic enhancements here as well…

    the things the ministry of education in North-Rhine-Westphalia is worried about? (Partially) Getting rid of the sociology focus in schools regarding social sciences and shifting the focus on economy-lessons.

    Universities didn’t want to partake. Unfortunately they have given up and now even the academic subject for teaching has been changed from social sciences to – rough translation – economy-politics (Wirtschaft-Politik) and the subjects accordingly.

    Especially in consideration of the current loss of voters of moderate parties in favor of radical ones should be a red-flag that, for future generations, adjusting the focus of education is essential. Regarding this article… maybe talking about the book burning of 1933 in Germany is something they should DEFINITELY cover. These events are more than concerning.