In 2022, Jim Grossman, who is the Executive Director of the American Historical Association, invited me to attend the first meeting of a working group that planned to investigate what actually goes on in history classrooms across the country.
Thanks for asking. He's doing fine. Otis had to undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate, which basically entailed neutering, but he also had a gastroplasty done. It's been two days and he can now take short walks as well as eating and drinking normally.
Thanks for this posting. I didn't know about this effort, and it's great to see it. I'm glad that people who know what they're talking about--and know what to look for--went out, studied actual classroom reality, and determined that the "typical American history classroom is neither awash in white supremacy nor awoke with critical race theory.” I hope you or somebody gets an op-ed into a national newspaper about it. That key finding looks plenty newsworthy.
(As to "awoke" with CRT: I discuss history fairly often in the online forum of the Wall Street Journal, where it's easy to encounter people who think all history classrooms are "awoke with" CRT. Christopher Rufo, able propagandist, did a great job of deliberately--as he himself crows--spreading THAT disinformation.)
Kevin, I want to tell some people--actually, a couple of dozen people--about this, and though I like the summary, I'd rather try to steer them toward your Substack, which after all contains the link to the summary anyway. I think nonsubscribers can still read Civil War Memory, but I guess I could just forward the emailed version.
Thanks, Steven. Anyone can read my newsletter with just a link. They only thing they can't do is comment or read the occasional post set aside for paid subscribers only.
Kevin, I'm tremendously grateful for this posting and want to return to it to continue assimilating.
But first: One word in a key passage seems to me to reverse the intended meaning of the sentence--except that I can imagine an interpretation in which it doesn't. Don't you actually mean wary, not weary, in the following?
Let’s be clear, teachers are not neutral umpires, simply calling balls and strikes, but the best teachers out there are ***weary*** of steering their students toward either side of the ideological/political spectrum. Again, their overall goal is providing content that reflects the complexity of American history and which will help their students think more carefully about it.
Selfish of me to take more of people's attention to emphasize this, but I really really don't want to come off like those grammar prudes who write grammar-police letters to the editor. It was just that it was not just a typo, I thought. and not just a typo that reversed the meaning of the sentence, but one that reversed the meaning of a sentence about the crucial issue in the whole natonal thing--Are teachers indoctrinating kids? Thanks.
Otis had to have surgery, but he is doing fine. Thanks for asking. I really have no problem with readers pointing out my spelling/grammar errors. Best.
Will this report be made available to the public, or only AHA members? Thank you for keeping us apprised.
It will be made public.
How’s Otis??
Thanks for asking. He's doing fine. Otis had to undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate, which basically entailed neutering, but he also had a gastroplasty done. It's been two days and he can now take short walks as well as eating and drinking normally.
Thanks for this posting. I didn't know about this effort, and it's great to see it. I'm glad that people who know what they're talking about--and know what to look for--went out, studied actual classroom reality, and determined that the "typical American history classroom is neither awash in white supremacy nor awoke with critical race theory.” I hope you or somebody gets an op-ed into a national newspaper about it. That key finding looks plenty newsworthy.
(As to "awoke" with CRT: I discuss history fairly often in the online forum of the Wall Street Journal, where it's easy to encounter people who think all history classrooms are "awoke with" CRT. Christopher Rufo, able propagandist, did a great job of deliberately--as he himself crows--spreading THAT disinformation.)
Kevin, I want to tell some people--actually, a couple of dozen people--about this, and though I like the summary, I'd rather try to steer them toward your Substack, which after all contains the link to the summary anyway. I think nonsubscribers can still read Civil War Memory, but I guess I could just forward the emailed version.
Steve Corneliussen
Thanks, Steven. Anyone can read my newsletter with just a link. They only thing they can't do is comment or read the occasional post set aside for paid subscribers only.
Thanks for sharing this!
You bet.
Kevin, I'm tremendously grateful for this posting and want to return to it to continue assimilating.
But first: One word in a key passage seems to me to reverse the intended meaning of the sentence--except that I can imagine an interpretation in which it doesn't. Don't you actually mean wary, not weary, in the following?
Let’s be clear, teachers are not neutral umpires, simply calling balls and strikes, but the best teachers out there are ***weary*** of steering their students toward either side of the ideological/political spectrum. Again, their overall goal is providing content that reflects the complexity of American history and which will help their students think more carefully about it.
Thanks. This is what happens when you've been awake half the night taking care of a sick dog.
I hope that dog is getting better.
Selfish of me to take more of people's attention to emphasize this, but I really really don't want to come off like those grammar prudes who write grammar-police letters to the editor. It was just that it was not just a typo, I thought. and not just a typo that reversed the meaning of the sentence, but one that reversed the meaning of a sentence about the crucial issue in the whole natonal thing--Are teachers indoctrinating kids? Thanks.
Otis had to have surgery, but he is doing fine. Thanks for asking. I really have no problem with readers pointing out my spelling/grammar errors. Best.
Aww, Otis! Feel better soon, so your family can rest 🥰