Lies essays

Lies essays James W. Loewen is an educator who went to college at Carleton University and furthered his education receiving his PhD in sociology at Harvard University. He began his teaching career at Tougaloo University in Mississippi, but would move on to the University of Vermont to teach sociology for twenty years. He has written numerous books studying the way Americans remember their past. Prior to writing Lies My Teacher Told Me, he prepared for the book by studying twelve principal U.S. History textbooks at the Smithsonian Institution for two years. He found the textbooks to be extremely plain, highly nationalistic and misleading. Loewen feels more voices and opinions need to be heard in our history textbooks. He feels besides the authors take on a historical event/period others should be heard. The teacher should give their interpretation, original documents involving the periodevent should be consulted, other experts opinions should be included and other voices be heard via the i nternet. Loewen believes, as he says at the end of the book, that fewer topics need to be taught and examined more thoroughly in elementary and high school. He feels the Civil War, the U.S. Constitution, and the Reconstruction period are very important historical topics that should be covered, but overall Loewen believes teachers should cover between 30-100 topics a year that excite them and that they feel students should know. Overall, Loewen considers all American historical topics/events important as long as they are taught in a realistic manner not idealistic, so students have a better understanding of their history for college and life. James Loewens Lies My Teacher Told Me discusses American History and the inaccuracies being taught to children in Americas schools. He declares that American students know less about their own history than any other sub ...