Comments on: Two months to get out of Africa http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Peter http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35974 Peter Fri, 12 Oct 2007 05:07:33 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35974 <strong>Peter...</strong> I just wanted to write to say that you have a great site and a wonderful resource for all to share.... Peter…

I just wanted to write to say that you have a great site and a wonderful resource for all to share….

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35973 allen Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:29:26 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35973 > Actually understanding that there is a world beyond the United States, from which people came, is worth a couple of months. As someone who isn't from the United States I can state with confidence that the world beyond the United States has a good deal more to learn from us then we from they. In case anyone's interested, here's a link to the document: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Item_B_207000_7.pdf > Actually understanding that there is a world beyond the United States, from which people came, is worth a couple of months.

As someone who isn’t from the United States I can state with confidence that the world beyond the United States has a good deal more to learn from us then we from they.

In case anyone’s interested, here’s a link to the document:

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Item_B_207000_7.pdf

]]> By: superdestroyer http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35972 superdestroyer Sat, 22 Sep 2007 00:55:55 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35972 I bet that at Sidwell Friends, St Albans, National Cathedal, and Georgetown Prep that the students do not waste two months studying anything other than American history during History Class. It never fails to amaze me how the political leaders in the U.S. makes demand of other people's children that they would make of their own. I bet that at Sidwell Friends, St Albans, National Cathedal, and Georgetown Prep that the students do not waste two months studying anything other than American history during History Class.

It never fails to amaze me how the political leaders in the U.S. makes demand of other people’s children that they would make of their own.

]]> By: Andy Freeman http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35971 Andy Freeman Fri, 21 Sep 2007 15:34:52 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35971 > Perhaps it will address the infamous American ignorance of anything that lies beyond its borders. Infamous perhaps, but typically better informed than, say, Euros. > Perhaps it will address the infamous American ignorance of anything that lies beyond its borders.

Infamous perhaps, but typically better informed than, say, Euros.

]]> By: Tom http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35970 Tom Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:50:57 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35970 Except Stephen, this story is about a "supposed" American History class! My grade 7 son here in Georgia will spend an entire year on Asia and Africa (history, culture, and current events). Our students get a lot of international instruction. Some of it is no doubt biased but that's the nature of history education. The problem in the U.S. is not that our kids don't know world history and cultures; the problem is they don't know history and cultures at all. Consider the previously referenced study on this blog about how poor college students do on a comprehensive test of American civics, history, and economics, and you'll see the problem is our overall social sciences instruction. Of course, the edge in your post you be that you're just resentful that Americans don't study the history of our 51st state to the north? ;-) Except Stephen, this story is about a “supposed” American History class!

My grade 7 son here in Georgia will spend an entire year on Asia and Africa (history, culture, and current events). Our students get a lot of international instruction. Some of it is no doubt biased but that’s the nature of history education.

The problem in the U.S. is not that our kids don’t know world history and cultures; the problem is they don’t know history and cultures at all. Consider the previously referenced study on this blog about how poor college students do on a comprehensive test of American civics, history, and economics, and you’ll see the problem is our overall social sciences instruction.

Of course, the edge in your post you be that you’re just resentful that Americans don’t study the history of our 51st state to the north? ;-)

]]> By: Scott http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35969 Scott Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:23:45 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35969 Anyone want to guess about the sanitized 'happy-face' history of Africa we are going to see? A healthy dose of past glories of ancient empires (none of their warts will be shown, to be sure), followed by the typical africanist nonsense, claiming credit for every invention and advance (all the credit was stolen by Europeans later), and a dollop of shame abotu the colonial period (wtih no real discussion of the post liberation era).... Something tells me that the current era of modern Africa is going to get a very short and well-polished discussion that won't bring up too many unhappy questions. Anyone want to guess about the sanitized ‘happy-face’ history of Africa we are going to see? A healthy dose of past glories of ancient empires (none of their warts will be shown, to be sure), followed by the typical africanist nonsense, claiming credit for every invention and advance (all the credit was stolen by Europeans later), and a dollop of shame abotu the colonial period (wtih no real discussion of the post liberation era)….

Something tells me that the current era of modern Africa is going to get a very short and well-polished discussion that won’t bring up too many unhappy questions.

]]> By: Bill http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35968 Bill Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:17:18 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35968 If you're an American, whatever your ethnicity, your cultural heritage is British. It's a great heritage, chockfull of shame and glory, and it's all yours to claim, regardless of your "bloodlines". History teachers should help ALL children claim it, thoroughly, vigorously, and proudly. If you’re an American, whatever your ethnicity, your cultural heritage is British. It’s a great heritage, chockfull of shame and glory, and it’s all yours to claim, regardless of your “bloodlines”. History teachers should help ALL children claim it, thoroughly, vigorously, and proudly.

]]> By: Stephen Downes http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35967 Stephen Downes Fri, 21 Sep 2007 11:16:32 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35967 Well good. They can spend the rest of their lives learning about the United States. Actually understanding that there is a world beyond the United States, from which people came, is worth a couple of months. Perhaps it will address the infamous American ignorance of anything that lies beyond its borders. Well good. They can spend the rest of their lives learning about the United States. Actually understanding that there is a world beyond the United States, from which people came, is worth a couple of months. Perhaps it will address the infamous American ignorance of anything that lies beyond its borders.

]]> By: SuperSub http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/09/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35966 SuperSub Fri, 21 Sep 2007 10:40:11 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/09/21/two-months-to-get-out-of-africa/#comment-35966 Those playing identity politics are racist themselves, from the sound of this proposal. It seems from the description of this proposal that the only worthwhile thing that Africans did was to be enslaved. Those playing identity politics are racist themselves, from the sound of this proposal. It seems from the description of this proposal that the only worthwhile thing that Africans did was to be enslaved.

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