A 1920s Lesson for Today’s History Textbook Wars

Time Magazine ^ | April 8, 2024 | Bruce W. Dearstyne

[ProgressingAmerica]

The teaching of history has become a flashpoint in the culture wars. But while the battle is fierce, it’s not new. An earlier round in the conflict in the 1920s — over the teaching of the American Revolution — indicates that it will be crucial for historians to weigh in loudly and forcefully during the current debate. That will give them the space to continue to teach the most accurate, up-to-date version of U.S. History and prevent forces that fundamentally don’t understand the job of historians from shaping what American children learn about the past.

In the late 19th century, the writing of American history was dominated by good writers who were not trained historians. They idealized the Founders and presented the American Revolution as heroic and fully justified.

[ProgressingAmerica]

No, Time Magazine. In the 19th century, historians were good writers, did a load of research and they told the truth using original source material to guide their pens.

That's why they're who I make free audio books with as target content. The past historians are the best ones we've got. We need to hear from them once more.

TIME knows this, ironically enough, they quote and had to lift the quote out of context in order to shamefully include it in the article. Toward the end, they quote Walter Lippmann on the matter who wrote """This willingness on the part of well known historians to manufacture a new patriotic tradition to suit the political necessities of 1917 was resented. The prestige of scholarship was injured. It was made plain that history is something that can be cut and shaped to suit the purposes of the moment."""

I go into some detail here: https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4229764/posts

To be brief, Lippmann points out how they fully knew full well they were manipulating history to gain certain outcomes. Time wants the same result now.

[ProgressingAmerica]

Ping.......

Some people thought “history” itself was safe up until about 10 or 20 years ago. Come to find out, “history” hasn’t been safe for the last 100 years when the progressives started mucking with it.

[little jeremiah]

Interesting!

[Elsie]

In the late 19th century, the writing of American history was dominated by good writers who were not trained historians. They idealized the Founders and presented the American Revolution as heroic and fully justified.

Like the quote about COUNTING the votes, it depends on who TEACHES the history class, not who has written the books.