When I used primary sources in the classroom, I did not interpret the documents.
 The students had to analyze the documents themselves, and in class discussion
we would take a look at everyone's interpretations.  There was no right or wrong
answer.  And students had to locate other records that would either support or
refute their interpretation.  They were taught NEVER to stand on one primary
source.

Everyone sees an event in a different light.  They bring their personal
experiences and biases into the interpretation.  We have to teach students to:
1. Not judge a historical event on 21st century standards
2. Leave their personal experience and bias at the door.  Simply answer the Who,
What, Where, Why, and How
3. Who wrote the document, Why did they write the document?  Did they
incorporate their own personal experience and bias into their document?

And with history, there is no definitive right or wrong.  History will always be
a controversial topic.

Karen Needles
Former history teacher
Director
Lincoln Archives Digital Project
http://www.lincolnarchives.us


On March 26, 2012 at 1:10 PM "Steven T. Corneliussen" <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>  > There is a serious movement to rewrite history. ... I
>  > think that moving in the direction of using primary
>  > sources to teach history, moving away from textbooks
>  > that have factual errors, and become political weapons
>  > of propaganda that have a lasting effect on our children
>  > is something that should be discussed.
>
> But wouldn't we then simply debate which primary sources to select? And
> wouldn't teachers still have to do lots of interpreting anyway? And
> wouldn't variations in that interpreting cause further debating, with
> further charges of unconstructive revisionism and accusations about
> propagandizing?
>
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"The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person who is
doing it."   Karen Needles

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed, is more important than
any other one thing."
Abraham Lincoln to Isham Reavis, Nov. 5, 1855
Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln. Volume 2, p. 328

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