And swing he did...Dr. James W. Loewen, that is. The author of Lies My Teacher Told Me spoke at the McConnell Center co-sponsored event this previous week, swinging at our education system and it's 'poor' efforts in teaching history to my generation. Specifically during the lecture, Dr. Loewen focused on the secession of South Carolina from the Union. He took a poll of the packed Chao Auditorium on the reasoning for the state's secession, providing 4 choices: a)Slavery, b)States' Rights, c)the election of President Abraham Lincoln, d)Taxes and Tariffs. So go ahead and quiz yourself. See if you have been poorly educated by the accused 'lies' of our school system.
Got an answer?
If you remember the show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', there were 3 'emergency' options to help answer a question: ask the audience, phone a friend, and 50/50. So first, I'll eliminate 2 choices for you. Now, instead, choose from a)Slavery and b)States Rights...are you still in the running?
Perhaps next, in this 'Millionaire' game you'd ask the audience. On the evening of the lecture this would have been a hindrance rather than a help since the majority of the audience chose the wrong answer... proving Loewen's accusations correct? The largest portion of the votes went to States' Rights. The correct answer (I hope you chose) was Slavery.
Dr. Loewen also spent the hour speaking about the Nadir of race relations (no, not Ralph), when the country was at its peak in racism. This period ranged from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and has a load of history that at least I never read in my high school history book.
So Loewen made a point--a controversial one--but one that needs to be addressed. From the looks of his biography and his many published books, he's been working to do just that. Our school systems need to be based on historical fact not stories that have been 'prettied up.' Fact is fact. Let's have it.
As a disclaimer, I'll be handing out no millions if you answered that question correctly, but I hope you are a winner. Perhaps you'll find that knowing America's true history and setting the story straight for future generations will be a far greater investment anyway. Thank you to Dr. Loewen and our cosponsors for an eye opening event.
Got an answer?
If you remember the show 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire', there were 3 'emergency' options to help answer a question: ask the audience, phone a friend, and 50/50. So first, I'll eliminate 2 choices for you. Now, instead, choose from a)Slavery and b)States Rights...are you still in the running?
Perhaps next, in this 'Millionaire' game you'd ask the audience. On the evening of the lecture this would have been a hindrance rather than a help since the majority of the audience chose the wrong answer... proving Loewen's accusations correct? The largest portion of the votes went to States' Rights. The correct answer (I hope you chose) was Slavery.
Dr. Loewen also spent the hour speaking about the Nadir of race relations (no, not Ralph), when the country was at its peak in racism. This period ranged from the late 1800s to the early 1900s and has a load of history that at least I never read in my high school history book.
So Loewen made a point--a controversial one--but one that needs to be addressed. From the looks of his biography and his many published books, he's been working to do just that. Our school systems need to be based on historical fact not stories that have been 'prettied up.' Fact is fact. Let's have it.
As a disclaimer, I'll be handing out no millions if you answered that question correctly, but I hope you are a winner. Perhaps you'll find that knowing America's true history and setting the story straight for future generations will be a far greater investment anyway. Thank you to Dr. Loewen and our cosponsors for an eye opening event.