Our universities haven't taught much political history for decades. No wonder so many progressives have disdain for the principles that animated the Federalist debates.
*snip*
For the better part of two generations, the best political science departments have concentrated on equipping students with skills for performing empirical research and teaching mathematical models that purport to describe political affairs. Meanwhile, leading history departments have emphasized social history and issues of race, class and gender at the expense of constitutional history, diplomatic history and military history.
Even hard-science university students are required to waste their money on classes like "psychology" and "sociology". Basket weaving 101 has more relevance! Why not require "alchemy" too? At my college, two semesters of English composition are required; no, you don't learn how to be a college-level writer in the second semester. Rather, it's a "race relations" class, with very little writing. I despise it. Intensely. I worked very hard for the money to go to school, and when it's wasted on claptrap classes posing as education, steam comes out my ears.
Oh, and American History To 1876? Wasn't. However, I now know all the contributions to our nation's founding, both real and contrived, of blacks, women, Indians, yada yada yada. Funny though. There wasn't much about James Madison, just a line or two taking a catty swipe at his personality flaws. John Jay rated a mention deep in the text. Of course, they're just evil white guys. The Federalist Papers? Pfft. Move along; nothing to see here.
And the problem isn't just in our universities. The rot is deep into our high schools and grade schools too. I don't know how we're going to turn this around, but we can take a step in the right direction (I hope) in November. Most importantly, we can teach our kids, grandkids, nieces, and nephews. It's a cinch that our schools won't.
This article ties in closely to the one I posted on September 1st, regarding the battle over school textbooks, which I STILL cannot link to in comments.
ReplyDeletehttp://theconservativekitchentable.blogspot.com/2010/09/students-caught-in-crossfire.html
Comment #7 there gives a list of 'important American historical figures'. See how many names you recognize there.
It's not merely two generations of colege graduates who have been so poorly served by the education system.
ReplyDeleteWe are now in our 4th (at least) generation of primary and secondary students who are learning that there is nothing so important as self-esteem, unless, of course they are white make students, who are busy being taught that they have no reason to esteem themselves, or any of their forebears.
A lot of vitriol gets heaped on the educational system (and it does deserve it), but the missing link in this problem is the parents.
ReplyDeleteParents have abrogated their responsibility to educate their children to the state. The state takes that rein and runs with it. It's absolutely predictable.
I *KNOW* that not everyone can afford a private school in line with their beliefs and not everyone can manage to home-school. But if you are a parent, you need to be involved with your child's education. You need to know what they are studying, what they are learning. You need to be in near constant communication with the teachers. And the school will HATE that, but tough shit for them. They want to be left alone to do whatever the hell they want - and that's why the education system has crapped out.
I do get that parents are tired. But parents thirty years ago were tired, too. And they STILL managed to be involved. Now parents only get involved if Junior doesn't get "awarded" the grades the parents believe Junior is worth (not the grades that Junior worked for).
You write so well lady red. I hope and pray the younger generations can be taught a more balanced and fair rendering of our history. It's gotten BEYOND out of hand at the present.
ReplyDeleteAFW, you're 100% correct. Many parents shove their kids in the front door of the local school and then wash their hands of the whole process.
ReplyDelete