Lies My Teacher Told Me- Ch.1

Chapter 1 was very interesting to me. I was never aware of what textbooks are leaving out about famous figures in our countries history. The more interesting case in this chapter, to me, was Woodrow Wilson. I was aware of several things mentioned about him that many students may not know. This includes his support of The Birth of a Nation as well as his anti-black viewpoints. I was more interested to find out that he invaded Latin America and the Caribbean on numerous occasions and also had a "secret" war with Russia during the time of their revolution.

This has a major significance on how I approach teaching. Know that I am more aware of what many textbooks are leaving out, I must be prepared to add more information in different ways. It was never a goal of mine, as a teacher, to use a textbook often in my class. Having said that, there are times when it is important and now I must be prepared with alternative sources to help my students take all the information they can about a person such as Woodrow Wilson.

One question that sticks in my mind after reading this chapter is: Is making these figures into heroes worth not sharing the important details of their lives and how they negatively or positively affected the people around them as well as their country?

helen-keller-socialist3a_sally.jpg

Interactive website: http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/woodrow-wilson/