“Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Main text
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

English literature is presented by numerous writers and poets, which present their pieces of work on different topics and of various styles. Needless to say that the works related to the psychology are extremely interesting. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James W. Loewen is the brightest example. This book is a kind of the author’s reflection about American history and the reasons why students and pupils do not like this subject.

James Loewen, the professor of sociology tries to find out why American history is, for the most part of school and college students, the most detested and least unforgettable subject. After all, presented the collide of Native population with Europeans, relationships between Europeans, a rebellion and the organizing of a republic, a gory civil war and several world wars, the clashes in Korea and Vietnam, a lot of years of racial and prejudiced pressures, the history of America is intrinsically impressive. Moreover, according to the recent studies the minor part of the students who do well in math and other precise sciences and subjects constantly fail American history.

Main text

So, it is necessary to outline the most essential interesting issues covered in the chapters 10-13. Thus, the chapter 10 deals with the information about the differences in historical facts presented in many textbooks. The author tells that different textbooks may provide with the different facts which cover the same period of time: “Indeed their attention to the recent past reflects their authors’ intention of making history relevant to current events and issues” (Loewen 412). Loewen states that these differences give the students the opportunity to analyze the facts themselves and find out the reasons of such differences. “Then students are challenged to discuss events and processes in the past that cause these differences. Teachers can also encourage their students to critique their textbooks” (Loewen 359).

Chapter 11 of the book deals with the discussion of progress. It is regarded as one of the most important products of humanity’s activity. He states that the main issue of all historical books is to demonstrate that history as a subject at college does not actually lead to the development and progress: “Probably, the principal effect of the textbook whitewash of environmental issues in favor of the idea of progress is to persuade high school students that American history courses are not appropriate places to bring up the future course…” (Loewen 299).

According to Loewen’s words all the facts about progress discussed in many historical books lead to the students being passive and indifferent somehow: “ …students rosy tales of automatic progress helps keep them passive, for it presents the future as a process over which they have no control” (Loewen 300).

The next chapter is the 12-th one. In this chapter Loewen tells about the process of creating of some historical books. From this chapter we get to know that very often these books are written not by the authors, enumerated in the reference list, but publishers’ clerks. “Authors should held responsible for what is inside their covers. Ironically once in a while the material added by publishers’ clerks conflicts with and enhances the base narratives (Loewen 323). So, as a result students read the books which are very often far from truth, as nobody is sure in the competence of these clerks. ” We can hardly expect textbook authors to return to primary sources and dig out facts that are truly obscure” (Loewen 303).

Finally, the chapter 13 discusses the effects of using history textbooks. Loewen states that these books make students stupid. “Whether in elementary school or the university. Learning appears to be stupid…(Loewen 440). Loewen conducted several examinations of the historical books and found out the main disadvantages of them. In many cases presented information in very boring, sometimes consisting of lies and misinformation. “Some historical books prepare students for lifelong misunderstanding of our place in the world” (Loewen 419).

Conclusion

Thought infuriating, unbiased, and often appalling, Loewen exposes the genuine America in this iconoclastic book so much-loved by the teachers of high schools, history beiges, and free-thinking citizens along the country.

Works Cited

Loewen, James W. Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everyting Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. New York: Touchstone, 2007.

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“Lies My Teacher Told Me” by James W. Loewen

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