In a message dated 2/9/2002 10:06:42 PM Eastern Standard Time, Deane Mills
writes:


> Yes, there is a plethora of literature available to those who wish to do
> independent study or pursue a particular avenue of scholarship concerning
> aspects of  that War or simply choose to "read up" for one's own personal
> pleasure.
> It is highly likely, I'm sorry to say, that 100% of American high school
> students are not being TAUGHT, in school, anything of substance about that
> period of our history.
> And, I will say, that what little is taught is probably grossly
> over-simplified and can be summed up with the notion that "Southerners were
> evil people who kept slaves and went to war to fight to keep their slaves."
>

1. It was fiully my intention to suggest that the high school students could
do as anyone else - go to the library or book store or internet and read and
reflect on what is available. It is what education is ultimately about - how
to learn and think.

2. With due respect - something that might be afforded those of us who have
taught the subject to high school students - what might be "grossly
over-simplified" is the assertion that "100% of American high school students
are not being TAUGHT, in school, anything of substance about that period of
our history". I may be wrong, but it seems to me that your real complaint is
that some, many, most, whatever, are not being taught what you believe to be
the "facts" of the history. That, of course, is your opinion and you are
entitled to it. Fortunately for my sanity, I have not discussed this with
anything like "100% of American high school students" :-).

I also recognize that this exhange may be viewed by quite a few as wavering
close to the line of not being about Virginia history. Certainly the teaching
of Virginia history would be on topic, but maybe the political correctness
dialogue belongs elsewhere. So as not to risk going over that boundary on my
part, I will leave this topic at this point.

Bill Russell

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