Why Should Children Read Historical Texts?

To emphasize his point, Murray identifies the relevance of E.D. Hirsh Jr’s work on the importance of everyone having a body of core knowledge as a way of fostering reading speed and comprehension” (Hirsh, 235). Murray supports Hirsh’s main points that a person should be culturally literate about America and the West and that a person should be scientifically as well as geographically literate. However, he continues that these are items best learned in K-8 when young minds are open to myths and fables. At those ages young students are more able to absorb and learn names and dates. Traditionally, in the past, it seems that a person went to college to learn about history, science, art, music and literature. But having

On this basis, we have to be careful about the children’s education. Lots of students find literature boring and waste of time nowadays. So, we have to make them realize that literature does not only consist of stories written about imaginary people, but it represents ideas that are revolutionary and fascinating for their future life; however, that will not happen without taking responsibility. Therefore, parents and teachers have to undertake this task because that a generation takes the shape of the society it belongs. For instance, they will not feel strange if their parents do not discuss different ideas about a situation. That’s why; parents and teachers should keep children away from the idiot box, and should pay attention to their education. Not only from the perspective of literature but also relating what they learn from books with real life. Being aware of that technology is being used to establish conformity in society, that is, simply accepting the tenets of the majority, we have to try to change the rules of the

Books are some of the best teachers we have “they teach us vocabulary social skills and new ways of thinking”(leigh). It’s also true that textbooks could teach a child this, but not in the way they would learn from a story. When a child is really engaged in a story they will learn a lot more than they think. “Books teach us history ”(leigh). and many books are based on certain time periods or cover certain events. When a child reads these stories, they will retain the

“For when textbook authors leave out the warts, the problems, the unfortunate character traits, and the mistaken ideas, they reduce heroes from dramatic men and women to melodramatic stick figures. Their inner struggles disappear and they become goody- goody, not just merely good.” (Loewen, pg. 29). “Lies My Teacher Told Me” is a non- fiction book written by author, American sociologist, and historian, James W. Loewen. The popular belief is that schools buy the textbook that best fits the curriculum, and by following these textbooks, students are learning to the best of their ability. However, Loewen challenges this belief by providing evidence from eighteen different American history textbooks. He believes that people in history should not be depicted as heroes when they simply are not. To continue, Loewen states that students find history to be so boring since they can not relate to it or the people in it. On page 354, he even concludes his book by stating, “Students will start finding history interesting when their teachers and textbook stop lying to them.”

In Early years reading variety of stories where children can relate to the book character can help them understand what can cause problem to safety or how to solve problems and where and how to seek the help. Asking questions to make think what went wrong what will you do if you are in such situations etc. helps them strategize ways to protect themselves. For e.g. after reading a story where a young girl opens the door to a tiger and the tiger finishes all the food in her house. Asking questions like who opens the door at your home? If parents are not around should you open the door? Why you should not open the door? which supports their decision making about safety.

James W. Loewen wrote the book “Lies My Teacher Told Me” to help students understand the past of the United States, and how it is effecting the present time. “Lies My Teacher Told Me” looks at 12 different American history textbooks, and points out the different lies, flaws, and sugar coated stories the textbooks present. Lowen explains how textbooks practice heroification, and how race and race relations are a major issue when it comes to American history. Among these topics, Lowen also sheds light on the truth about social classes in America, and how textbooks lie about the past and try to avoid the recent past all together.

This exposure to history may potentially cause social studies teachers to retract their summer reading assignments and discuss A Glass Castle instead. Many would argue that the current summer reading assignment, Black Boy by Richard Wright, contains similar themes and also discusses bits of U.S. history. Although these people speak the truth, The Glass Castle would make a better fit for the summer reading assignment simply because students can relate more to the plot and characters. Black Boy takes places between 1912 and 1937 and The Glass Castle takes place between 1957 and 2007. Students will find more in common with the characters in Walls’ work, causing them to show more interest in the assignment. Last year, one in every nine kids did not complete the summer reading assignment. This proportion would decrease if students felt engaged and had interest in the literature. A Glass Castle instills laughter yet also warms readers’ hearts. If we read and analyze this book at the beginning of the year, students will not feel stressed out during the first few weeks of school because it contains light content and a clear narrative

In conclusion historical events, and literature such as “Ain’t I a Woman” and The Taming of the Shrew should always be taught not only in today’s classroom but in future classrooms as well. They teach events in history and not be repeated in the present or future and they teach children wisdom and lessons that other side would have remained in the dark to their

It is important to remember to children do not stop learning history when they finish their time at primary school. Maintained secondary schools follow the NC which maintains that all children will continue to learn history by means of the KS3 History Programmes of Study (2013). Therefore it is important to prepare children for more challenging and precise history learning. New topics shall be introduced so it is important children have the skills to ‘identify significant events, make connections, draw contrasts, and analyse trends’ (p.72). It is, furthermore, defined that pupils will ‘pursue historically valid enquiries including some they have framed themselves’ (p.72). This indicates towards children becoming independent critical thinkers, a valuable quality to have in adult

Why should high schoolers be forced to read a book that isn’t interesting to them? Often times they either do not apply to real life situations or even teach anything that a teenager would understand. So, the high schooler skims through the book and does not pay attention to any detail. High school classrooms need better books that can teach history in a fun way, and add some interesting things to which students can reflect and think on. A book read in high school, should allow the students to think critically about the text they are reading, should include some references to history, and incorporate themes that are understandable and relatable to a high school student’s life. This makes a book want to be read as well as enjoyable. The

Chapter four will examine reasons of why teaching history and controversial, sensitive topics to young elementary students is important and those topics, such as racism, affect young children. It will also examine both the negative and positive effects and influences history can have on a young child's mind and their cultural way of thinking.

There are many ways in which an individual can study history, but for most reading a textbook describing events and dates does not give them a clear picture of what life was like for the people of the time. Although, textbook reading can allow an individual to know a lot of facts about historical events, which can be helpful, it lacks the ability to touch the readers emotions and allow them to relate to the people of the time. However, these emotions and comparisons can be elicited through the reading of fictional and nonfictional primary sources. Also, modern textbooks give biased historical accounts based on modern principles, which can change what certain historical events truly meant. Reading primary works of both fiction and nonfiction can help people better understand the past through many avenues.

Throughout history, scrutiny towards literature has fallen into three categories: political, moral, and religious. Advocates of intellectual freedom and speech have stood against those individuals and organizations that oppose the rights of any individual seeking knowledge through books under the 2nd amendment. In my essay, I intend to shed light on the benefits books can have and the side effects of a lack of knowledge in a school setting.

Literature opens our eyes to the different social and cultural standings around the world. For instance, in the book “Thousand Splendid Suns” by Khaled Hosseini, Hassani's parents had believed that education was important and put hassani in school but they married her off at the young age of 13. She was sent away from her family to live with her husband and his family. Prior to reading this book, it was implemented in my brain that education is the

Historical fiction is set in the past and tells a story using details from the time and place to which it is referring. This can and often includes historical figures giving the reader a sense of the time and place. Children who read historical fiction gain understanding of their own heritage, people, beliefs values hardships and physical surroundings. They can make the connections between the influences of the past and what influences them now. As they discover universal truths identify feelings and behaviors, it will encourage them to make a better choice for themselves. Understanding different viewpoints will develop sensitivities and empathy helping them to realize that history shows us that we must work together.