Kids don't learn American history in Ireland
By: The Yank | Published Thursday, June 17, 2010, 6:52 PM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 9:37 PM
Sometimes I forget that my children don't learn American history in school. Makes sense, of course, that in
Ireland the schools focus on Ireland's history and not
America's. It's just that I forget at times.
I tend to realize this most when we visit places that are important in American history. I find myself answering questions on the basics, the types of things Americans learn and absorb from a young age.
I try to compensate for this short-coming in their learning by talking to them about American history whenever the opportunity presents itself, such as the trip to
West Point. And I like to seek out places of American historical interest to visit.
I grew up near
Saratoga and
Lake George (French & Indian War) so we've been to those places. We've also gone to
Philadelphia,
Boston, Fall River, MA (
Battleship Cove - my son loved it) and a few other places. Also, we have been to a couple of places that most Americans never get to -
Bastogne in
Belgium (Battle of the Bulge, WWII) and the area around
Chateau Thierry in
France, where the American army was involved in WWI.
However, I don't remember ever buying them any books that might help spark the interest in American history and I'm learning that this might have been a big mistake.
While we were in America last week my brother gave my son a gift of a book called '
Chasing Lincoln's Killer' by James L. Swanson. It must be a tremendous book because my son can't stop talking and asking about Lincoln and his assassination. The questions are coming at me morning, noon and night.
"Is Ford's Theater still there? I understand why they wanted to kill the Vice President, but why did they want to kill the Secretary of State? Is Secretary of State Seward's home still there? Booth had to fool the army guards on the Navy Yard Bridge to get out of
Washington. Is the Navy Yard Bridge still there?" Unfortunately, my answer to all of the questions has been "I don't know." {
Google has since answered them for me, other than the one about Secretary Seward's house.}
And boy does he ever want to visit Washington (and any place connected to Booth's escape route and Richmond, Appomattox, Fredericksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg, etc.). I haven't been to Washington since I was there in '95 for a wedding. My last proper visit - seeing the sights and so on - was in 1990.
Now I'm feeling guilty that my teenage daughters haven't been, almost as if I've neglected my duty as an American parent. I'll have to figure out how to get them to Washington (and a one or two other places in the area) for a few days. In the meantime I will definitely keep my eyes and ears open for more books that might interest my children in the story of America. All suggestions are welcome.
17 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.emer333 | Apr 26, 2010, 12:00 PM EDT
I know what you mean, yank. I feel very loyal to both Irish and American histories and especially Irish-American History. I happen to live near Philadelphia, PA, near a home that was involved in the underground railroad, and the owner of this estate saved the life of Lincoln while traveling from NY to Washington, during one of his many assassination attempts. There are so many interesting dinnseanneach in both the USA and in Eire.
murphy66 | Apr 24, 2010, 11:51 PM EDT
Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?
TheYank | Apr 20, 2010, 08:58 AM EDT
pacmanisback
Just to be clear: your comments should be fine unless you use offensive or abusive language. Of course, how that's defined can be tricky, but I think it's always best to err on the side of caution. (Isn't that the trademark of any conservative?)
As I said below, often I'll write a long comment and see a message that says "Comment has been sent", or something to that effect. I know when I see that, the comment won't post. Is that what you're seeing?
Or are you seeing the comment post and available for a while and then disappearing?
pacmanisback | Apr 19, 2010, 05:49 PM EDT
Yank I think its more alone the lines of censorship-if you question Mr. O'Neill or his far left agenda you are doomed. So sad.
TheYank | Apr 19, 2010, 12:14 PM EDT
pacmanisback,
I wish I had the answer. If it's what you suspect then I'm clearly outside the loop on the agenda because I'd say at least half of the comments I write don't end up posting.
Far as I understand it, there's a technical glitch and everyone's hopeful it can be resolved soon.
pacmanisback | Apr 19, 2010, 12:34 AM EDT
Yank-how come some comments dont make it on the blogs? I have written a few that dont make it-all clean. Do you have to share the same agenda.
whale344 | Apr 18, 2010, 12:33 AM EDT
Deacn Jack: The NEA doesn't write the history books. They are written to appease the right wingers in Texas, so the publishers can sell them there and California and Indiana. Read "Lies My Teacher Told Me".
whale344 | Apr 18, 2010, 12:28 AM EDT
A good book for U.S. history is "Don't Know Much about History". A good question and answer format.
peterson | Apr 17, 2010, 02:47 PM EDT
U.S. schools teach their students very little about history including World War two. Some history books have even been returned to publishers as they had incorrect information in them. Dah !!!
macausheen | Apr 17, 2010, 07:58 AM EDT
I don't know, but it sounds like a case of keeping up with your heritage in reverse. How many immigrants to America need to teach their children about where they were from. Things they won't learn in school. Irish teach Irish history and Americans teach American history. It's your duty to teach them what they don't learn in school.
plasticpaddy | Apr 16, 2010, 06:21 PM EDT
Yes they do George Davis, of course and in a decent manner at least.
sully1167 | Apr 16, 2010, 04:59 PM EDT
mollymguire you don't need to be so rude, get over yourself already.
mollymguire | Apr 16, 2010, 04:39 PM EDT
Duh, why the hell would they??? I didn't learn much Irish history in school in America, except for the immigrants coming in to Ellis Island and since I'm from Louisiana, I learned about the Irish who dug the canals. Oh, and I learned about some Irish who fought in the Battle of 1812 around New Oleans.
GeorgeDavis | Apr 16, 2010, 03:35 PM EDT
Kids don't learn American history in Ireland??? Kids don't learn Irish history in Ireland!!!
Dompedro | Apr 16, 2010, 02:40 PM EDT
The y Yank shouldn't feel picked on ........ kids don't learn American history in Americas either
Ajreaper | Apr 16, 2010, 02:29 PM EDT
LOL, history favorable to the NEA? Good Lord. Yank the history channel has a great many show's and specials covering many American historical persons and events on DVD. Kids/teenagers may find this more "entertaining" then reading a dry history book. Also they will be airing a new show "The history of Us" the end of April which I understand will be webcast might be something to look in to.
DeaconJack | Apr 16, 2010, 11:19 AM EDT
Kids in America aren't being taught History either---unless its the "slanted" kind favorable to the NEA.