When a people group loses interest in history...

[JohnH]

How to teach the subject of the patriots is something I have been wondering about. It certainly seems a bit odd to teach your children that heroes are people who fomented (and won) a rebellion. But simultaneously, it's not good to teach your children that the nation they live in is "bad" and the people who founded it are "bad".

[mike]

How to teach the subject of the patriots is something I have been wondering about. It certainly seems a bit odd to teach your children that heroes are people who fomented (and won) a rebellion. But simultaneously, it's not good to teach your children that the nation they live in is "bad" and the people who founded it are "bad".

Paul figured out how to teach various things simultaneously. He taught that Caesar is God's minister at the same time that Caesar was roasting God's people alive, and also taught that we leave vengeance to God, and also that we pay taxes and respect whoever that government happens to be, and also taught that we might be persecuted by that government.

[JohnH]

How to teach the subject of the patriots is something I have been wondering about. It certainly seems a bit odd to teach your children that heroes are people who fomented (and won) a rebellion. But simultaneously, it's not good to teach your children that the nation they live in is "bad" and the people who founded it are "bad".

Paul figured out how to teach various things simultaneously. He taught that Caesar is God's minister at the same time that Caesar was roasting God's people alive, and also taught that we leave vengeance to God, and also that we pay taxes and respect whoever that government happens to be, and also taught that we might be persecuted by that government.

Children tend to prefer clarity with identifying who exactly the bad guys and the good guys are.

My son did inform me that when he grows up he's going to go and "get all the bad guys".

[JimFoxvog]

How to teach the subject of the patriots is something I have been wondering about. It certainly seems a bit odd to teach your children that heroes are people who fomented (and won) a rebellion. But simultaneously, it's not good to teach your children that the nation they live in is "bad" and the people who founded it are "bad".

I homeschooled our boys. Our history texts included a standard kids' history encyclopedia and Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States. Then we discussed different perspectives. This, it seems, is a good way to teach your children to have an interest in history and to think independently.