Loewen: Chapter 13

Reflection:

"If knowledge is power, ignorance cannot be bliss."
                                                                                – Loewen, 342

      We have made it to the end of this book, and we finally find out the answer to the problem of bad history, and it is:...ask more questions. I was really hoping for a more definitive ending after we had been taken through 12 chapters of critiquing and finger-pointing social studies and textbooks. I really wanted a concluding action plan, so I read the afterward only to be told to ask five questions: when and why was something written, whose viewpoint is presented, is the account believable, is it backed up by other sources, and how is one supposed to feel about the America that was presented?
     The best point, in my opinion, that he brings up is that emotion is the glue that causes history to stick. We remember most vividly things that emotionally affected us, ie., 9/11, fights with friends, etc. So, in the end, my practical take-away question is, "How can I get my students' emotions involved?" Apparently, it will be different for varying personalities, socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, etc. As a teacher, part of my responsibility is to assess how to get each of my students emotions involved in our studies. Not an easy, one-size-fits-all task!

Japanese atomic bomb victim

Source: http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120618212214/fallout/images/8/83/Japanese-atomic-bomb-victims-47.jpg

Big Question: Loewen says history textbooks are too big already (and they are), how can we teach more in-depth when we cannot even cover all the material we need to as it is?

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJMf1Y9GBrA&feature=related
     This video could be used to expose students real people from a different viewpoint to give a broader understanding of peoples American experiences.