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*sigh* Disillusioned regarding U.S. History


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We've been studying early American history the last year and a half, and I've become so disillusioned about everything I was taught in school.

Columbus, Jamestown, Pocahontas, the first Thanksgiving, Lewis & Clark. And now, NOW-not you too, Paul Revere? :scared: I WAS planning to read a simple book or two about Paul Revere, do a narration and call it a week. However, I have been reading how the majority of the Paul Revere's "story as we know it", never happened. Thanks Longfellow!

 

Yes, I know, he was still a good man, worthy of studying, and admiring.

 

Yes, I know, this will be a good lesson to the kids about primary sources, patriotism,:hat: and so on.

 

Still..... I'm getting REALLY tired of the amount of work needed to plan a simple weeks' unit. :banghead: Can't someone write an American History curriculum for elementary/middle students using primary sources? Or a few good children's books based on primary sources?

Pretty please? Does something like this already exist?

 

:rant:

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I've had the *worst* time trying to pull American history courses together, both at the elementary/middle school level and at the high school level. I wish there was something like SOTW for American history, which may not be what you're talking about exactly, but I guess my point is that you're right, there is a huge need for some sort of solid American history course targeted to maybe grades 4-6. Something that isn't A History of US.

 

On another note, I do think it's important for kids to learn the myths as well as the facts. As in any culture, creation stories are important.

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Not American but there's another way to look at this. Those things you read and once believed might be more legends then lies. They might not be completely factual but they tell basic truths about the vision some people had for what America could be.

 

Apparently my father's family was known as the Bears where they came from. The story goes that one of the menfolk was stumbling home after a night of partying and drinking and happened upon a black bear. The bear ran at him and he ran to hide behind a tree. The bear swiped at him from the other side and he managed to grab the paws and hold the bear, as if the two of them were hugging the tree, for a couple of hours until someone else came along and either the bear was chased off or killed.

 

Not sure I believe it. :) But it tells some basic truths about my family. The men WERE drinkers, were generally not big but were strong and were fantastic storytellers (we were bards back in Scotland a few centuries ago) and known for some outlandish stuff. I wouldn't be disappointed to learn it never happened.

 

The US has its myths (Betsy Ross, Paul Bunyan) and its legends (Some Washington stories, Paul Revere) and its factual history. All together they form a picture of what your country was, is and what some thought it should and could be. I think that's pretty neat.

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I have lived and spent time in other countries, especially the repressive developing world. Every time I come back to the US I appreciate our country more. Of course there have been negative things in our country's past, and of course our country is not perfect. But please do not fall into the hate trap just because you read a book by an angry author. Our country may not be all that it could be, but it is much better than the rest of the world. When I lived in other countries, people were continually asking me to help them get to America. The freedom and opportunities we have are unique, even compared to socialist Europe. It is possible to take a balanced approach, appreciating America for all of its greatness while also acknowledging the wrongs that have been committed in the past.

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I'm reading Zinn now. It's a hard pill to swallow. It kind of makes me angry. I feel like I've been lied to. Then again I don't know what to believe. I guess there are always many sides.

 

I just wonder how to explain to my kids that some books make the US look like the most glorious place in the universe (and that even in our darkest hours we were justified in our behavior) and other books make it seem that the country was and always will be run by a bunch of power hungry jerks who care nothing about human beings.

 

:iagree: I'm reading Zinn along with Lies My Teacher Told Me and I'm just in shock and dismay. :001_huh:

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It isn't just American history. It is all history. Authors often unconsciously bias their information. I tend to read history from multiple perspectives in order to achieve some sort of balanced view.

 

But, the same goes for views on multiple issues where I have seen book length threads on this forum. There are at least 2 sides to every story and each one will have a different interpretation depending on the view. And the reader will often chose whichever bias suits their particular life view.

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Well this thread is a bummer :( lol

 

We are starting hs'ing this year and I'm SOOOOOOOO looking forward to covering US History with my children, 7 and 9. We are doing Sonlight Us History year 1.

 

I look back on me elementary school years with fond memories of unit studies of the Native Americans, dioramas, etc. The explorers, thirteen colonies and Revolutionary War was also a favorite area of study.

 

I plan on doing history pockets and lapbooking and cuddling up with them reading all sorts of great books about how marvelous this nation is.

 

I'm disillusioned before I even start! lol

 

Have any of you used Sonlight for US history? Do the extra notes in the IG help deal with any discrepancies and to balance out the books? I just ordered it on Sunday.

 

 

Also, I remember reading a few of the Hakim History of Us books to my oldest dd when I was homeschooling her and I really liked them (though my husband wasn't too thrilled with them)

 

Is there a problem with those?

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You know, public schools had their agenda in the texts created, but Zinn has his agenda, too. Just sayin'.

 

Not a fan of Zinn. He's an extreme leftist, and while if that's your worldview, then he's your guy, but don't think his book is somehow less biased just because he's retelling history from a perspective different than those of traditional American History public school textbooks. It is just biased in a different direction.

 

I've heard good things about Hakim, but I haven't looked into it yet.

Edited by zenjenn
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We are going to cover American History in our 2nd semester this year, starting around January. I have been researching this endlessly. Here's what I think we're going to do

 

1. Complete Book of US History as our spine. This is not deep stuff, but it will help guide me.

2. Use a lot of the The Drama of American History and Betsy Maestro books, as well as library books. We've read a few of the Collier books, and I think they are simply fantastic.

3. Zinn's book

 

Also, I have recently begun looking at the American History task cards at http://shop.creekedgepress.com/, which might provide a nice, broad base for exploring American history without being tied to a particular curriculum or world view. She has some samples in the Gallery but I'm hoping she puts up some more.

Edited by Halcyon
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I am also going to plug again - for those with girls in the 8-10 range, what I did with American History this year. We used the American Girl historical fiction books, along with supplemental books.

 

The books are more of a social history and the life and times of a 10 year old girl in each of several time periods and settings throughout American History. How she lived, family life, schooling at the time, as well as political/economic events in the greater world around her and how they affected HER.

 

My daughter really digested everything we learned in a real and meaningful way.

 

Each time period has 6 core short novels each with a nonfiction chapter at the end, plus additional mystery novels set in the time period that my daughter read independently for fun. If this sounds fluffy, we're talking 60+ books here. That's 60 chapters of non-fiction along with the stories, plus any supplemental material.

 

The books also, IMO, are amazingly good at telling stories from multiple sides. For example, the colonial character is from a family of Patriots, but with a beloved grandfather who is a Loyalist. Her best friend is an English girl, and she meets some not-so-nice Patriots along the way. Things are not black-and-white, but the books leave an age-appropriate sense of awe of the American story along with sorrow for the wrongs that have happened in the past.

 

The general theme is that the American story is an amazing story, and things change through time, and change is usually both positive and negative. But the people - no matter how differently they lived, whether it was a Nez Perce child or a girl living on a rancho near 19th century Sante Fe, or a slave escaping the Civil War or a wealthy girl at the turn of the century - had many of the same feelings, desires, and hopes as a girl does today. :)

 

We are just reading the last set of books about a girl in the 1970's. I've shed a lot of tears over these characters who go through death, loss, survival, war, slavery, racism, class warfare, child labor, poverty, wealth, and the latest one, a broken family - yet the books have managed to all remain uplifting as well. We've had some amazing discussions about real events, and I watch this information have a serious impact on my daughter who empathizes with people in history as she thinks about trials endured by characters she loves. I'm sad our journey with these books is coming to an end.

Edited by zenjenn
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You know, public schools had their agenda in the texts created, but Zinn has his agenda, too. Just sayin'.

 

Not a fan of Zinn. He's an extreme leftist, and while if that's your worldview, then he's your guy, but don't think his book is somehow less biased just because he's retelling history from a perspective different than those of traditional American History public school textbooks. It is just biased in a different direction.

 

I've heard good things about Hakim, but I haven't looked into it yet.

 

;)

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You know, public schools had their agenda in the texts created, but Zinn has his agenda, too. Just sayin'.

 

Not a fan of Zinn. He's an extreme leftist, and while if that's your worldview, then he's your guy, but don't think his book is somehow less biased just because he's retelling history from a perspective different than those of traditional American History public school textbooks. It is just biased in a different direction.

 

.

 

Amen!!!!:hurray:

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I'd recommend reading up on Zinn critiques before using in a curriculum. As mentioned, Zinn wrote from a certain political viewpoint (Marxist), and it comes across in how he chooses to present US history. This is fine if this is how you want to educate your children, but it is far from a "balanced" perspective.

 

Zinn himself asserted that Ă¢â‚¬Å“There is no such thing as pure fact." In his world, teachers are not imparting facts, they are fostering social struggle, and he encouraged collectivist movements utilizing Ă¢â‚¬Å“the role of working people, women, people of color, and organized social movements.Ă¢â‚¬

 

Here is one example of a cogent critique: http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=385

 

I don't fault those who would choose to teach this perspective, but it is not some "what your teacher never taught you!" presentation of history.

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The books that I've read in The Drama of American History series (as mentioned by Halcyon earlier) by the Colliers brothers are the best late elementary/middle-school aged American History books I have ever seen.

 

They are well written. They give both sides of the story when they delve into conflicts in American history. They are engaging and smart.

 

I greatly prefer them to Joy Hakim.

 

The only downside is the series is OoP. But many libraries seem to have them.

 

Bill

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I have lived and spent time in other countries, especially the repressive developing world. Every time I come back to the US I appreciate our country more. Of course there have been negative things in our country's past, and of course our country is not perfect. But please do not fall into the hate trap just because you read a book by an angry author. Our country may not be all that it could be, but it is much better than the rest of the world. When I lived in other countries, people were continually asking me to help them get to America. The freedom and opportunities we have are unique, even compared to socialist Europe. It is possible to take a balanced approach, appreciating America for all of its greatness while also acknowledging the wrongs that have been committed in the past.

 

:iagree: America is an exceptional country!

I fear many take for granted the freedoms and liberties we have in our great land until like you, they have gotten a chance to see what it's like on the other side of the fence.

Edited by OzarkieArkie
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I'd recommend reading up on Zinn critiques before using in a curriculum. As mentioned, Zinn wrote from a certain political viewpoint (Marxist), and it comes across in how he chooses to present US history. This is fine if this is how you want to educate your children, but it is far from a "balanced" perspective.

 

...

 

This is precisely why I chose BJU American Republic. I will be supplementing A History of US used at our co-op with the BJU text. All history texts have some bias. Otherwise it's a list of dates, quotes and copies of letters and documents. It's the interpretation and synthesis that gets ya.

 

I read the book Mayflower recently. I does an excellent job of telling the story of Plymouth. EXCEPT, the author kept calling the pilgrims violent. He used that word repeatedly; so much so it made me mad. They only committed one truly violent act in the first five or 10 years. (I'd have to re-read the book to confirm the time span.) That hardly makes them a violent people on the whole. So, even just a choice of adjective can show an author's bias. And, repeating that idea - the pilgrims were violent - can turn into a bit of propaganda. Ya know, the old repeat something often enough and it becomes truth.

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You know, public schools had their agenda in the texts created, but Zinn has his agenda, too. Just sayin'.

 

Not a fan of Zinn. He's an extreme leftist, and while if that's your worldview, then he's your guy, but don't think his book is somehow less biased just because he's retelling history from a perspective different than those of traditional American History public school textbooks. It is just biased in a different direction.

 

I've heard good things about Hakim, but I haven't looked into it yet.

 

:iagree: and my husband, oy! He very very very much agreed. LOL

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I'm reading Zinn now. It's a hard pill to swallow. It kind of makes me angry. I feel like I've been lied to. Then again I don't know what to believe. I guess there are always many sides.

 

I just wonder how to explain to my kids that some books make the US look like the most glorious place in the universe (and that even in our darkest hours we were justified in our behavior) and other books make it seem that the country was and always will be run by a bunch of power hungry jerks who care nothing about human beings.

 

I think that we lose sight of the idea that there can be both great opportunity and terrible knaves who take advantage of it. For example, during the 19th century era of heavy European immigration to the US, there was a huge movement of people who went from being laborers, small farmers or piece workers to being educated with the ability to be in government, own businesses and hold larger farms in just a couple generations. My great grandfather, for example, came over from Bavaria as a teen. He became an iron molder and died fifty years later owning his own foundry company.

 

On the other hand, there were people who were willing to take advantage of immigrants and con them out of their money or direct them to factory work.

 

I don't see it as a struggle to determine if America is good or not. I think that it is a contrast between people who are idealistic and optomistic and generous on one side and people who are cynical and selfish on the other. That struggle is common to the human condition.

 

The big difference that I see is that is a stronger sense of self-determination in the US than in other places. My ggf was able to tell an immigration official that his profession was "goldsmith" (a huge exageration by a 16 yo) and almost make it come to fruition. My dh's family moved from being cigar rollers to owning an prosperous insurance agency in one generation. This sort of mobility isn't common in most places and times.

 

The other huge character I see (to steal an observation from Victor Davis Hanson) is that while America has a culture that is unique, it has also said that joining that culture is not dependent on race or ethnic background. Slavery was a great evil in our history. But we also have had several decades now of Americans of African descent in the highest corridors of power. And this change isn't just a result of shifting demographics making a former minority more populous.

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The books that I've read in The Drama of American History series (as mentioned by Halcyon earlier) by the Colliers brothers are the best late elementary/middle-school aged American History books I have ever seen.

 

They are well written. They give both sides of the story when they delve into conflicts in American history. They are engaging and smart.

 

I greatly prefer them to Joy Hakim.

 

The only downside is the series is OoP. But many libraries seem to have them.

 

Bill

 

Drat, I had one of these in my hand yesterday and didn't realize it was from this series. I would have enjoyed checking it out. Off to do a library hold.

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I think that we lose sight of the idea that there can be both great opportunity and terrible knaves who take advantage of it. For example, during the 19th century era of heavy European immigration to the US, there was a huge movement of people who went from being laborers, small farmers or piece workers to being educated with the ability to be in government, own businesses and hold larger farms in just a couple generations. My great grandfather, for example, came over from Bavaria as a teen. He became an iron molder and died fifty years later owning his own foundry company.

 

On the other hand, there were people who were willing to take advantage of immigrants and con them out of their money or direct them to factory work.

 

I don't see it as a struggle to determine if America is good or not. I think that it is a contrast between people who are idealistic and optomistic and generous on one side and people who are cynical and selfish on the other. That struggle is common to the human condition.

 

The big difference that I see is that is a stronger sense of self-determination in the US than in other places. My ggf was able to tell an immigration official that his profession was "goldsmith" (a huge exageration by a 16 yo) and almost make it come to fruition. My dh's family moved from being cigar rollers to owning an prosperous insurance agency in one generation. This sort of mobility isn't common in most places and times.

 

The other huge character I see (to steal an observation from Victor Davis Hanson) is that while America has a culture that is unique, it has also said that joining that culture is not dependent on race or ethnic background. Slavery was a great evil in our history. But we also have had several decades now of Americans of African descent in the highest corridors of power. And this change isn't just a result of shifting demographics making a former minority more populous.

 

Excellent post.

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The US has it's myths (Betsy Ross, Paul Bunyan) and it's legends (Some Washington stories, Paul Revere) and it's factual history. All together they form a picture of what your country was, is and what some thought it should and could be. I think that's pretty neat.

 

Please do tell. I have never heard of BR being a myth.

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I saw the Betsy Ross house recently in Philly. It says on a plaque that she did make many US flags, but it is unlikely that she made the first. So yeah, she made US flags (as did many other people), but the part about her sewing the first one is likely just a myth.

 

Thank you for explaining that. I wonder how they know that? And why would anyone just choose her name out of all the other seamstresses? Did she have some family ties to someone important writing history? Oh how my mind just keeps wondering! Hehe!

 

I remind myself of the little cloth book I made for my girl, Witzy Wonders.

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I think that we lose sight of the idea that there can be both great opportunity and terrible knaves who take advantage of it. For example, during the 19th century era of heavy European immigration to the US, there was a huge movement of people who went from being laborers, small farmers or piece workers to being educated with the ability to be in government, own businesses and hold larger farms in just a couple generations. My great grandfather, for example, came over from Bavaria as a teen. He became an iron molder and died fifty years later owning his own foundry company.

 

On the other hand, there were people who were willing to take advantage of immigrants and con them out of their money or direct them to factory work.

 

I don't see it as a struggle to determine if America is good or not. I think that it is a contrast between people who are idealistic and optomistic and generous on one side and people who are cynical and selfish on the other. That struggle is common to the human condition.

 

The big difference that I see is that is a stronger sense of self-determination in the US than in other places. My ggf was able to tell an immigration official that his profession was "goldsmith" (a huge exageration by a 16 yo) and almost make it come to fruition. My dh's family moved from being cigar rollers to owning an prosperous insurance agency in one generation. This sort of mobility isn't common in most places and times.

 

The other huge character I see (to steal an observation from Victor Davis Hanson) is that while America has a culture that is unique, it has also said that joining that culture is not dependent on race or ethnic background. Slavery was a great evil in our history. But we also have had several decades now of Americans of African descent in the highest corridors of power. And this change isn't just a result of shifting demographics making a former minority more populous.

 

 

I love this post as well... Part of growing up, I think, is realizing that things (and people) are rarely all good or all bad, but rather, good and evil often co exist inside of one entity, including ourselves and we have the choice to tip the scales in the direction we choose as far as ourselves are concerned and the responsibility to see them tipped in the direction of good in our homes, businesses, and country.

 

I had a really tough relationship with my dad growing up. I thought of him as mean and hypocritical. I went away one summer and being away from home, it all came crashing down on me at once that my dad was human. His failings didn't make him a "bad" person... just a person. Now that I'm an adult I wrestle with my failings every day. As a parent, as a spouse, as a Christian, I'm far from perfect. I have to accept the fact that I'm human and bound to make mistakes balanced with the understanding that I can change and grow and challenge myself to do better.

 

That's the view I apply to this country. My experience, however limited, has been that people of character typically value country and patriotism. Not in such a way as to blindly support everything their country does, but rather to, realize there are flaws, and continue to have loyalty; to understand what's detrimental to our national well being (often from within, if you ask me) and to use my vote and whatever other means within my reach to change those things.

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Interesting post. I read Zinn myself when we were in the first half of SL American History. I grew up in the Bay Area, and Zinn certainly echos my "youth culture" of the 80s!!!

 

However to the post regarding SL, I feel that it actually is very balanced, depending upon how you use it. The IG can be helpful, but you have to sift. In general, I read it, then put it away. The books often show both sides of things, and certainly the Native American focus shows a clear image of an invasive, imperialist force destroying a native culture...without showing that Native culture as perfect...makes kids really think, not black and white. The combo of the readers and read alouds showed the revolutionary war as a war, with glory and lots of cruelty and death...

This seeing both sides actually matures with the Core E (2nd half) to the point that I learned more about the Civil War than ever before, teaching it to the kids.

 

I'm not saying SL is perfect, but for these years, I did find it very balanced. We also enjoy the American Girl books here. And supplemented with Ken Burns videos from Netflix.

 

What I haven't figured is a good high school American History - especially for modern (20th century). But that's a ways away!

Erin

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I appreciate all the suggestions and love all the comments and ideas. I agree we are very fortunate to live in the USA. I had forgotten about the Collier books, thanks SpyCar!

We have shifted our focus somewhat, and instead of reading a 'spine' chronologically, we are pulling out some noteable Americans and reading as many primary source documents as we can find relating to them, as well as autobiographies.

Also, we talk about where authors get their information, and had a good discussion on how it is difficult to get Native American's perspective, because they never wrote anything down.

Another of the 347 reasons why we homeschool! :D

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I am also going to plug again - for those with girls in the 8-10 range, what I did with American History this year. We used the American Girl historical fiction books, along with supplemental books.

 

I'm sad our journey with these books is coming to an end.

 

What a wonderful idea!!! My DD would love this!!

 

We are also doing US History this next year with DS 10 and DD 9. I plan to use SOTW 3 + 4 pulling only US history chapters.

 

Paula's Archives has a list of the chapters that only cover US History from SOTW books 3 and 4 as well as lists that line up SOTW with other currics.

 

http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/SOTWmenu.htm

 

I am also going to pull in Guerber's books "The Story of the 13 Colonies" and "The Story of the Great Republic". I plan to use some Hakim as well. I haven't laid it all out yet, but will also use fiction books and other recommended reading.

 

As far as what you need to teach in the younger grades, I would hold back on some of the 'ugly' truths of our country's history until the next rotation. My 9yo doesn't need all the gory details at this point in her life.

:)

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My youngest son preferred encyclopedia articles to books for history, because the editors are held to much higher standards to provide something as accuarate and unbiased as possible.

 

My oldest son just wanted to use the SHORTEST book possible and demanded it be secular.

 

I prefer to structure my studies geographically rather than historically, and then after that go for the "bear" method (post #5) of telling my family's story (I like Teaching with God's Heart for the World) and letting it go at that. Life is too short!

Edited by Hunter
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The books that I've read in The Drama of American History series (as mentioned by Halcyon earlier) by the Colliers brothers are the best late elementary/middle-school aged American History books I have ever seen.

 

They are well written. They give both sides of the story when they delve into conflicts in American history. They are engaging and smart.

 

I greatly prefer them to Joy Hakim.

 

The only downside is the series is OoP. But many libraries seem to have them.

 

Bill

 

I have both A History of US and the Drama of American History series. I like the Drama of American History because of its coherent presentation, but I have decided to go with Hakim because I simply think it will be more engaging for a younger student. Hakim drives me crazy (I read the entire History of US series aloud to my older son), but I can't see the Drama of American History holding the attention of my 9yo.

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I have both A History of US and the Drama of American History series. I like the Drama of American History because of its coherent presentation, but I have decided to go with Hakim because I simply think it will be more engaging for a younger student. Hakim drives me crazy (I read the entire History of US series aloud to my older son), but I can't see the Drama of American History holding the attention of my 9yo.

 

I'm not sure I am following "why" you think DoAH wouldn't hold your 9 year olds attention?

 

Like you, Hakim's writing style makes me crazy. In contrast the Colliers write so well and the ideas are clear, and engaging. So what's not to like?

 

Bill

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This fall dd10 will be studying American history with a text from Ignatius Press (i.e., it has a Catholic perspective), From Sea to Shining Sea. There's a helpful TM as well.

 

just throwing that out there, in case it might help someone :tongue_smilie:

 

I'm not one for textbooks, but I've found the series to be amazing.

 

I think that we lose sight of the idea that there can be both great opportunity and terrible knaves who take advantage of it. For example, during the 19th century era of heavy European immigration to the US, there was a huge movement of people who went from being laborers, small farmers or piece workers to being educated with the ability to be in government, own businesses and hold larger farms in just a couple generations. My great grandfather, for example, came over from Bavaria as a teen. He became an iron molder and died fifty years later owning his own foundry company.

 

On the other hand, there were people who were willing to take advantage of immigrants and con them out of their money or direct them to factory work.

 

I don't see it as a struggle to determine if America is good or not. I think that it is a contrast between people who are idealistic and optomistic and generous on one side and people who are cynical and selfish on the other. That struggle is common to the human condition.

 

The big difference that I see is that is a stronger sense of self-determination in the US than in other places. My ggf was able to tell an immigration official that his profession was "goldsmith" (a huge exageration by a 16 yo) and almost make it come to fruition. My dh's family moved from being cigar rollers to owning an prosperous insurance agency in one generation. This sort of mobility isn't common in most places and times.

 

The other huge character I see (to steal an observation from Victor Davis Hanson) is that while America has a culture that is unique, it has also said that joining that culture is not dependent on race or ethnic background. Slavery was a great evil in our history. But we also have had several decades now of Americans of African descent in the highest corridors of power. And this change isn't just a result of shifting demographics making a former minority more populous.

 

I have stories just like this from my own family and Dhs.

 

Excellent post.

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We've been studying early American history the last year and a half, and I've become so disillusioned about everything I was taught in school.

Columbus, Jamestown, Pocahontas, the first Thanksgiving, Lewis & Clark. And now, NOW-not you too, Paul Revere? :scared: I WAS planning to read a simple book or two about Paul Revere, do a narration and call it a week. However, I have been reading how the majority of the Paul Revere's "story as we know it", never happened. Thanks Longfellow!

 

Yes, I know, he was still a good man, worthy of studying, and admiring.

 

Yes, I know, this will be a good lesson to the kids about primary sources, patriotism,:hat: and so on.

 

Still..... I'm getting REALLY tired of the amount of work needed to plan a simple weeks' unit. :banghead: Can't someone write an American History curriculum for elementary/middle students using primary sources? Or a few good children's books based on primary sources?

Pretty please? Does something like this already exist?

 

:rant:

 

I don't know if this would work for you, but last year I started using the SL IG in an alternating rotation with WTM style reading and narration. We were doing ancients at the time. So we would do the SL readings for 6-8 weeks, depending on which culture was scheduled. Then we would do a similar amount of time reading our Kingfisher encyclopedia, biographies and other living books about the period.

 

What I liked about this was that I felt like it gave the kids both a baseline of information (through the SL schedule, which included SOTW, an Usborne history encyclopedia and fiction) as well as time to research their interests (usually related to mythology or warfare) and to practice lots of writing (they had to do 1-2 paragraphs each week during the non SL weeks.

 

The only thing I struggled with was integrating my younger son with the same schedule because his reading just wasn't up to par. This year I'll be using a classic TOG schedule as a framework for topics to study. We'll start with the reading suggestions in the TOG schedule, then branch out for our further reading and research.

 

While I want my kids to learn how to learn from a textbook, I also know that advanced historiography is usually based on lots of secondary sources or primary sources, not on a textbook. A textbook or spine can only provide a bare framework and will have to make a lot of editorial cuts for space restrictions. Those cuts will always reflect a lot of the bias and perspectives of the author(s).

 

BTW, the book Who's Stepping on Plymouth Rock by Jean Fritz actually is a children's book that discusses how historical events is used by subsequent generations to frame or explain or justify current events. It's not new. The Aeneid was a Roman effort to give a Homeric origin to the Roman republic. And you can see it happening today with Oliver Stone movies (not to mention other film efforts). Or look at how many politicians preceed a presidential run with an autobiography/political jerimiad. Knowing that it's happening is important.

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I'm not sure I am following "why" you think DoAH wouldn't hold your 9 year olds attention?

 

Like you, Hakim's writing style makes me crazy. In contrast the Colliers write so well and the ideas are clear, and engaging. So what's not to like?

 

Bill

 

Given my experience with him, I just think that Hakim's conversational style will appeal to him more (and, in general, if at all possible I try to go with what appeals to him as it makes things infinitely easier). I was having a meltdown over this decision last week, as I really did not want to go through Hakim again. I'm hoping that the K12 course (which uses Hakim) will help with coherence. I know they skip chapters that are irrelevant to the narrative.

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The American Girl books are not exactly unbiased either. They are told from a 21st century perspective, with 21st century social expectations.

 

For example, in one story the girl's nanny, a married, youngish, black woman, gets pregnant and resigns so she can stay home with her baby. The 10 year old is appalled that one would "have" to stay home and take care of one's baby and that there was a "black" section of town.

 

The people of that day would not have seen a problem with either staying at home with your baby or living with others of your race or ethnic group. In fact, up through the 50's and 60's, that was what lots of people wanted to do. Having to leave your baby and go to work was considered a hardship, not a privilege! Chinatown, the North End and Hamtramck didn't become ethnic enclaves because the government made people live there. They chose to live with others of a similar background.

 

Those are 21st century issues that the book plants back into history that simply didn't exist back then.

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I really like the Landmark and American Heritage Junior Library books. A few of the volumes are overbearingly from the WASP perspective (which we most definitely are not), but most of them are excellent. (there are a couple of the Landmark books that I just consider poorly written, "The Landing of the Pilgrims" is one.

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I've had the *worst* time trying to pull American history courses together, both at the elementary/middle school level and at the high school level. I wish there was something like SOTW for American history, which may not be what you're talking about exactly, but I guess my point is that you're right, there is a huge need for some sort of solid American history course targeted to maybe grades 4-6. Something that isn't A History of US.

 

On another note, I do think it's important for kids to learn the myths as well as the facts. As in any culture, creation stories are important.

 

 

I have been walking around muttering the bolded to DH for the past month. We wouldn't even need an AG, just a good story that I could read or throw the audio version on in the car. (Just sayin'.) I'll have to look into some of the other series mentioned in this thread. :001_smile:

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I have been walking around muttering the bolded to DH for the past month. We wouldn't even need an AG, just a good story that I could read or throw the audio version on in the car. (Just sayin'.) I'll have to look into some of the other series mentioned in this thread. :001_smile:

 

 

Here is Moira's list (Nmoira) of the books in the Drama of American History series. You may want to check your library system to see if they have the series. I could not be more impressed with the authors' ability to present the tensions and conflicts in American History in ways that present the best case for each side in the conflict.

 

They achieve both a nuanced-depth in important topics AND are able to stream-line the works in a way appropriate to the age without "dumbing down" the discussions. And the writing is very engaging. This is a difficult trick to pull off, but they do it masterfully IMO.

 

Bill

 

Here's a list of the titles in the series:

Clash of Cultures: Prehistory to 1638, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Paradox of Jamestown, 1585 to 1700, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The French and Indian War, 1660 to 1763, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The American Revolution, 1763 to 1783, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Pilgrims and Puritans, 1620 to 1676, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Creating the Constitution, 1787, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Building a New Nation, 1789 to 1803, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Andrew Jackson's America, 1821 to 1850, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Hispanic America, Texas, and the Mexican War, 1835 to 1850, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Jeffersonian Republicans, 1800 to 1820, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Civil War, 1860 to 1866, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Slavery and the Coming of the Civil War, 1831 to 1861, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

Reconstruction and the Rise of Jim Crow, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 1998.

The Rise of Industry: 1860 to 1900, Marshall Cavendish (New York, NY), 1999.

A Century of Immigration: 1820 to 1924, Marshall Cavendish/Benchmark Books (Tarrytown, NY), 1999.

Indians, Cowboys, and Farmers, 1865 to 1910, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 2000.

The United States Enters the World Stage: From Alaska through World War I, 1867 to 1919, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 2000.

Progressivism, the Great Depression, and the New Deal, 1901 to 1941, Benchmark/Cavendish (Tarrytown, NY), 2000.

The Rise of the Cities, Cavendish/Benchmark (Tarrytown, NY), 2000.

United States in World War II, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 2001.

The Changing Face of American Society, 1945 to 2000, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 2001.

The United States in the Cold War, Benchmark/Cavendish (Tarrytown, NY), 2002.

The Middle Road: American Politics, 1945 to 2000, Benchmark Books (New York, NY), 2002.

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I am also going to plug again - for those with girls in the 8-10 range, what I did with American History this year. We used the American Girl historical fiction books, along with supplemental books.

 

The books are more of a social history and the life and times of a 10 year old girl in each of several time periods and settings throughout American History. How she lived, family life, schooling at the time, as well as political/economic events in the greater world around her and how they affected HER.

 

My daughter really digested everything we learned in a real and meaningful way.

 

Each time period has 6 core short novels each with a nonfiction chapter at the end, plus additional mystery novels set in the time period that my daughter read independently for fun. If this sounds fluffy, we're talking 60+ books here. That's 60 chapters of non-fiction along with the stories, plus any supplemental material.

 

The books also, IMO, are amazingly good at telling stories from multiple sides. For example, the colonial character is from a family of Patriots, but with a beloved grandfather who is a Loyalist. Her best friend is an English girl, and she meets some not-so-nice Patriots along the way. Things are not black-and-white, but the books leave an age-appropriate sense of awe of the American story along with sorrow for the wrongs that have happened in the past.

 

The general theme is that the American story is an amazing story, and things change through time, and change is usually both positive and negative. But the people - no matter how differently they lived, whether it was a Nez Perce child or a girl living on a rancho near 19th century Sante Fe, or a slave escaping the Civil War or a wealthy girl at the turn of the century - had many of the same feelings, desires, and hopes as a girl does today. :)

 

We are just reading the last set of books about a girl in the 1970's. I've shed a lot of tears over these characters who go through death, loss, survival, war, slavery, racism, class warfare, child labor, poverty, wealth, and the latest one, a broken family - yet the books have managed to all remain uplifting as well. We've had some amazing discussions about real events, and I watch this information have a serious impact on my daughter who empathizes with people in history as she thinks about trials endured by characters she loves. I'm sad our journey with these books is coming to an end.

 

I did these books years ago when AG actually had an "Historical Club" for girls, with "Pastports" that had stickers you needed to earn by completing projects for each American Girl doll. It was so much fun and very educational. As you completed each dolls "assignments", you were rewarded with a sterling silver charm of that doll to put on your AG charm bracelet. My dd loved earning the charms for each doll and still has the bracelet to this day.

 

We also belonged to the "AG craft club". Each month you either received a craft (and these were serious crafts...we have a beautiful wooden loom for one of Kirsten's projects, an embroidery kit for Samantha with the "Actions Speak Louder than Words" pillow from her first book, a knitting nellie for Molly, so my dd could knit like Molly did in her second book) or a game, book, or some other type of project.

 

They also had an extensive curriculum with maps, worksheets, plays to do, etc. It was so well done and very thorough. We both enjoyed it immensely. Unfortunately, as with all things AG.....none of the above are available anymore. It's a shame, really, because the products were far superior to anything they have now. The day they sold out to Mattel was a sad day indeed.

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Those are 21st century issues that the book plants back into history that simply didn't exist back then.

 

Very true. It has been years since we've read AG books, but I remember seeing that and a few of the more "feminist" ideas that were totally not a part of the thinking in the time period they were written in.

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I mentioned in one thread I hate buying used, but it looks like it would be worth it to start up a used collection for Drama of American History. Thanks for the list Bill, that will make it handy to find them.

 

I just started reading The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong. With short, engaging stories, it's great for the elementary age as an easy to read aloud or independent reading. I think it's an amazing, interesting resource, especially for us secular homeschoolers. I definitely recommend it as a fun supplement.

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I mentioned in one thread I hate buying used, but it looks like it would be worth it to start up a used collection for Drama of American History. Thanks for the list Bill, that will make it handy to find them.

 

I think it would be almost impossible without this list. I tried to find all the books without it out (and failed miserably :D). Where Moira came up with this list is a mystery to me, but I keep re-posting it to keep others from the same fruitless searching I went through.

 

DoAH is very mainstream. It is not an "other side of the story" type history program (as is the case with Howard Zinn). Instead it examines disputes within the academic mainstream in a very even handed (biased toward the middle) fashion. It fills this niche very nicely. And is a pleasure to read (unlike Hakim).

 

I think you and Satori would really enjoy this series in the future. I have only read four books in the series (on my own) thus far, but they are written almost exactly how I would hope to present American History—with a good explanation for where both sides in disputes were coming from, so one understands the reasoning of people and groups without a simple resort to "good guys vs bad guys" type thinking.

 

I just started reading The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong. With short, engaging stories, it's great for the elementary age as an easy to read aloud or independent reading. I think it's an amazing, interesting resource, especially for us secular homeschoolers. I definitely recommend it as a fun supplement.

 

Thanks for the tip. I don't know this one.

 

Bill

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