Suchergebnisse

Explores the history of civic education policy in relation to the changing politics of public schooling, emphasizing the experience of whites. The history of the philosophy of education, post-American Revolution-1990s, & the role of public schools in forming free citizens are reviewed. Despite Americans' traditional distrust of central government, they have enrolled their children in the public school system, perhaps because of its decentralized organization. Topics include the search for political & religious common denominators in public education; the debate over language, culture, & religion in schools; the role of public education in the "Americanization" of immigrants; & the alleged triumph of nativism in the 1920s, as reflected in negative textbook stereotypes of immigrants. The 1930s & 1940s, however, saw a trend toward pluralism, more positive views of immigrants, & a return to a more liberal political ideal. The author concludes that trust among citizens is a necessity, & public education must promote cultural diversity as well as political citizenship. 129 References. J. R. Callahan

Explores the history of civic education policy in relation to the changing politics of public schooling, emphasizing the experience of whites. The history of the philosophy of education, post-American Revolution-1990s, & the role of public schools in forming free citizens are reviewed. Despite Americans' traditional distrust of central government, they have enrolled their children in the public school system, perhaps because of its decentralized organization. Topics include the search for political & religious common denominators in public education; the debate over language, culture, & religion in schools; the role of public education in the "Americanization" of immigrants; & the alleged triumph of nativism in the 1920s, as reflected in negative textbook stereotypes of immigrants. The 1930s & 1940s, however, saw a trend toward pluralism, more positive views of immigrants, & a return to a more liberal political ideal. The author concludes that trust among citizens is a necessity, & public education must promote cultural diversity as well as political citizenship. 129 References. J. R. Callahan

History textbooks have represented state-approved civic truth. They reveal what adults thought children should learn about the past and are probably the best index of what young Americans did learn in class. History texts have given the past a patriotic gloss, varnishing familiar icons and perpetuating familiar interpretations. Like monuments designed to commemorate and re-present emblematic figures and events, textbooks shaped the public culture. But over time, textbooks did change, for many groups insisted that their truths prevail. Conflicts often intensified in periods of stress—hot and cold wars, depression, and sharp demographic shifts—when loyalty police went on alert and social activists recruited allies. The present history wars are a late chapter in a long book.