How was history taught when (if) you were at school?

[Chookie]

For example, when I was at school (which was not yesterday), the "history" lessons I received followed this schedule:-

1) Romans in Britain which covered the successsful invasion of Britannia (England and Wales).

With absolutely no mention of the fact that there were no less than three unsuccessful invasions of Caledonia (Scotland) – the last by Septimus Severus.

2) The Norman Conquest - which never reached Scotland - Normans did but they were invited by King David and they came peacefully, not as conquerors.

3) Bannockburn - one of the few battles the English lost (Yes, that's how it was presented!). No mention of the the territorial ambitions of Edward Longshanks, the Rape of Berwick, the theft of the Stone of Destiny, the First War of Independence, the murder of Wallace, the Second War of Independence, the Treaty of Northampton, etcetera

4) Wars of the Roses – which had very little to do with Scotland...........

5) The Glorious Revolution - which was neither – it was nothing more than a corporate take-over by another of power-hungry clique.

6) Culloden - where those rebellious Scots were exterminated. No discussion of the reasons behind any of the Jacobite Risings.

7) Trafalgar and Waterloo - NOT the Peninsular War - just two battles

Indian Mutiny – just that it occurred, with due mention given to a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier.

Relief of Mafeking – nothing about the background to any of the South African wars.

According to this schedule, history ended around 1900, neither the Stone Age or any other age happened, no Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon or Australiopithecus existed. Greeks were an urban legend, and Keltoi never exited.

It's getting better, slowly, but it's getting better. Not before bloody time.

[bay]

LOL, American history is just as bad. No mention of the Trail of Tears, of moving Indian tribes around purppsely to sicken and demoralize them. No mention of broken treaty after broken treaty or giving Indians blankets infected with smallpox. No mention of taking Indian children from their homes, breaking up families, sending the kids to live in bording schools where they were punished for speaking their language. No mention of the breakup of families in the late 1800s that still has an effect today.

No mention of the south's side of the Civil War.

I did have one history teacher in high school who dared to teach us the british side of the American Revolutionary war. That was interesting to see it from the other side.

Today, I fear that history lessons are getting even worse, more myopic.

[Chookie]

LOL, American history is just as bad. No mention of the Trail of Tears, of moving Indian tribes around purppsely to sicken and demoralize them. No mention of broken treaty after broken treaty or giving Indians blankets infected with smallpox.

As far as I am aware, the only recorded instance of this happening was in 1763 at the order of Lord Amherst. I'm not saying that there were no other instances of this sort of thing happening, but it was the only recorded instance of which I am aware (not that that means a helluva lot).

There are many other diseases they could have used which are easier to distribute flu or measles for example.

[Viv]

I don't have a knowledge, but understood at least part of the armed forces in the US Civil War were British fighting British?

Chookie, my teacher was a lovely mild married middle-aged lady and a secret rebel...SNP supporter.

She taught us quite a bit of our own history and gave a fair old perspective about what really happened. Taught us the words to "Flower of Scotland" and explained all that whole anthem thing.

She did take a risk, it was not in the curriculum and she swore us to secrecy in case it would cause trouble for her as a teacher.

[bay]

No, the Revolutionary war was against the Brits. and then we fought them again in 1812. As for Brits fighting Brits, not sure what you mean. the colonists were mostly expatriated Brits. The French helped us in both wars.

the Civil war was north-south, US against US. I do believe the French and Brits picked sides there to help, my brain is a little fuzzy on that this morning as I' operating on very little sleep, sigh...

[Viv]

No, the Revolutionary war was against the Brits. and then we fought them again in 1812. As for Brits fighting Brits, not sure what you mean. the colonists were mostly expatriated Brits. The French helped us in both wars.

the Civil war was north-south, US against US. I do believe the French and Brits picked sides there to help, my brain is a little fuzzy on that this morning as I' operating on very little sleep, sigh...

Yeah, I'm aware of the sleep issue:)

Yes, I meant many of the "US" people were Brits or expats.

[Oregon Elephant]

The french never did help out in the Civil war, the south sent numerous letters to them trying to get them to get involved, but they never did, not more than send some food.

[Phædrus]

On the matter of Indians, out history class covered them briefly, mentioned a bit about pre-Columbian history and such, but didn't go into too much detail. Our English class, though, oh my god. They have a whole section for Indian stuff, and it's bordering on "Noble Savage."

[Oregon Elephant]

well, in Oregon we learn a lot about the history of the indians, probably because it is a part of our culture, over half of our towns are Indain words.

[bay]

My guess is you got the story from the white POV...... like the "murders" of the Whitmans by the I ndians...

what they don't tell you is that the Whitmans and others were involved in coercing indians into christianity, spreading disease among the tribes, forcing tribal people into agriculture, paving the way for the never ending parade of white people along the Oregon trail... taking away Indian lands forever.....

don't get me started!

[Phædrus]

My guess is you got the story from the white POV...... like the "murders" of the Whitmans by the I ndians...

what they don't tell you is that the Whitmans and others were involved in coercing indians into christianity, spreading disease among the tribes, forcing tribal people into agriculture, paving the way for the never ending parade of white people along the Oregon trail... taking away Indian lands forever.....

don't get me started!

Who is this directed at?

[bay]

lanyone who will listen! LOL....

oregon elephant said he learned some Indian history in school. I'm questioning how accurate that history was.

As if you couldn't guess, Native American history is one of my hot buttons, rather the WASP version of Indian history.

[ciaranxavier]

lanyone who will listen! LOL....

oregon elephant said he learned some Indian history in school. I'm questioning how accurate that history was.

As if you couldn't guess, Native American history is one of my hot buttons, rather the WASP version of Indian history.

dont forget being forced to conform to a european lifestyle. the english did a real good job with the indians up here in canada. they divided them all onto little reserves so now they bicker amongst themselves for the reserve lands instead of taking up the real issue about land with the government. also by dividing them up into small reserves scattered throughout canada they effectively destroyed their chances to unite as one strong voice.

[bay]

EXACTLY my point Ciaran.

[Chookie]

My guess is you got the story from the white POV......

For another perspective read Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee or The Fetterman Massacre or, to a lesser extent The American West - All by Dee Brown.

don't get me started!

I'll see your "taking away Indian lands forever....." and raise Highland Clearances (don't get me started)..

[bay]

For another perspective read Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee or The Fetterman Massacre or, to a lesser extent The American West - All by Dee Brown.


Quote

very good reads, Chookie

and try The Life and Death of Crazy Horse by Russell Freedman

http://www.wc.pdx.edu/crazyhorse/Modmtn.jpg

[White Rabbit]

Going to school in Canada, I learned about Canadian history, US history, Greece & Rome, medeval history, WW1 and WW2. We also studied the Iroquois and the six nations confederacy. I also recall having to do some project on the history of Australia.