Should more time be devoted to studying Native Americans in a US history class?
Are the Native Americans worthy of "reparations" for all the harm that was done to them in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in particular? Why or why not? How would these reparations be meted out?
Native Americans are extremely undervalued in history classes, we learn little about them and the little that is learned is "sugarcoated". In most US history classes, Colombus is depicted as a hero and people are left oblivious to his cruelty towards the Native Americans. However, spending a large amount of time on Native Americans would be pointless since not much information is known about them. The US history classes should expose the truth behind Colombus' treatment towards them and teach the benefits Native Americans brought to their country.
ReplyDeleteYumi, Brasil (Tasis)
I think that it is not the time devoted to studying the Native Americans that should be changed, but what is taught about them. It would not make sense to spend too much time on them as they are so far in the past that we do not know much about them, but the full story of Columbus' voyage should definitely be revealed. I believe that Howard Zinn's representation of what happened does a very good job of uncovering the negative side of the story. It gives us a far clearer image of what really happened to the Native Americans.
ReplyDeletePaulina, United States (Tasis)
The amount of material that is taught in U.S. history classes doesn't need to be reduced or increased, but the type of information should be changed. Some of the material of columbus should not only be covered by his points of views, or journals, but by the view of the native americans. In general classes should focus a lot more on the views of native americans, and not have the "story" be told by the victors.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, Switzerland. (tasis)
The amount of material that is taught in U.S. history classes must be kept the same, although the value of native americans is overrated, since they weren't the ones who made the US what it is today. However, Columbus' actions should be examined deeper.
ReplyDeleteSam (Dr. Lord), Belarus
When teaching about the Native Americans and what occurred to them in the 17th - 19th century, more information on how they were treated should be given. They were victims of a genocide, and I believe that they don't take too much credit for what they have done, they should be more recognized for all they suffered. Therefore, it leaves Christopher Columbus usually taking all the fame, most history classes I know show both side to the stories, but if they don't, they should. They need the side to both stories.
ReplyDeleteGiovanna, Brazil
The amount of time spent in US history classes studying Native Americans is equal to the amount of information that is know to historians. Native Americans did not write their history down and through time most of the history was forgotten, specially when most of the population died. Ivan, Moscow, Russia (TASIS)
ReplyDeleteWe should not devote more time to study the Native Americans, because the information we have about them is scarce. It's not about time, but about how they are studied. In some classes, only one side of the history is shown, usually indicating Columbus as a hero, and the fact that these people have suffered for years is just forgotten. Unfortunately, "The history is told by the victors." Also, I believe the Native Americans are worthy of reparations for all the harm they suffered in the 17th-19th centuries.
ReplyDeleteVictoria, Brazil.
What is taught about Native Americans is complete. Children are taught all about what is currently known about their culture and religion. However, what the Europeans did to them is not shown. It's somehow "censored". Students should also know that early colonists were extremely cruel and bloodthirsty to the Natives in many occasions. I think its really important for children to be taught about the genocide of the Native Americans because if it hadn't happened, the US would be soooo different today.
ReplyDeleteMateo (TASIS)
Colombia
More time should not be devoted to studying Native Americans. The Native Americnas did not right down their history, so not much information is known about them.
ReplyDeleteNon of the Native americans deserved to be treated the why they were in the 17th,18th, and 19th century. They were the first inhabitants of this land, yet they faced battles and hardships with all whom tired to conquer their land.
Francescsa Sofia
Nicaragua
In history, there is a huge amount of time spent studying Christopher Columbus’s, or the man who “discovered” America’s, story. Yet, no one knows the true history of Native Americans since there isn’t a lot of time devoted to studying them during school. However, there is no way to really rectify this situation since there is not much information about them, due to the face that the Native Americans never wrote down their own history in a way that we can understand today. So although Native Americans may deserve to have more time dedicated to studying them, there is no way for that to happen. What is taught about them is far from complete, but it is all that we can teach about them at this time.
ReplyDeleteYes I think United States should study Native Americans history only if they are not going to be provided any false facts and there would be no disrespect towards Native Americans. Yes it is worth for the reparation so the people that live in America would know more what actually happened at 17th, 18th and 19th century and so the future generations would maybe than try not to repeat the mistakes done by their ancestors.
ReplyDeleteYes, more studying should be done on the Native Americans because they were a amazing society who basically grew a society from nothing. Their ways are extremely interesting. Also I think that the massacre of the Natives by the Europeans should be emphasized too, we have to learn history from both sides to completely understand it.
ReplyDeletePietro B Guglielmi
In my opinion, the topics being taught about Native Americans should not be increased nor decreased, instead the material being taught should be altered. In many History classes Columbus is depicted as a hero who discovered our country. But in fact, he was the one who first enslaved and took advantage of the natives. The Native Americans are thought of as, "the people who took Britain's land." This, of course needs to be changed, Native Americans should otherwise be remembered as the people who helped make our country what it is today and Columbus should be more notoriously remembered for the actions he imposed on the Native Americans.
ReplyDeleteGunnar Bouwman- US