Ann's Blog On Thanksgiving

Ann's second quarter blog #3:

"Teaching Thanksgiving From a Different Perspective" (cnn.com; November 24, 2006)

The debate over the actual story of Thanksgiving persists. The traditional history as we learn it is being questioned continually and many are against the way it is being taught. The actual feast may not have been all smiles like we portray it today. An elementary school teacher by the name of Bill Morgan is determined to let his third-graders know the 'real' story of Thanksgiving. There in Long Beach, California he enters his classroom dressed as a pilgrim and begins by stealing his students' backpacks, pencils and glue sticks. When the students protest he simply tells them that they are his now because he discovered them. This being an effort to teach his third-graders how the events of Thanksgiving really occured. While there are many who would encourage these teachings, there are many who disagree with the way Mr. Morgan is telling the history of Thanksgiving. They say that his style is 'too extreme'. One woman who disagrees with Mr. Morgan's teachings was quoted in the article saying "He is teaching his students to hate their country. That is a very distorted view of history, a distorted view of Thanksgiving." Others say that the 'dark' side of the story should not be taught to children that are so young.

In this day and age, it seems that we, as Americans, don't recognize the history at our actual feasts of Thanksgiving.My anual supper does not include, "and thank you Lord, for the settlers who first settled our country" or anything even remotely close. My family and I are giving thanks for the blessings God has given us and I'm pretty sure that the settlers are not too high up on my list of things I am thankful for. Thanksgiving, for me is a time to be thankful for my family, friends and all the love and oppurtunities that I am blessed with. For me, its pretty far removed from the very first Thanksgiving between the natives and the settlers. Now, that being said, I don't think that the whole issue discussed in the article is really much of an issue. I think that the students should hear both sides of the story and the things being debated, but the teaching should be done in a non-bias manner. This way, the students could decide for themselves how they feel about the matter. Furthermore, the article stated that here was peace at the thanksgiving time, it wasn't until afterwards that it got ugly between the natives and the settlers. Here again, I have heard things that would contradict that. But in my opinion the students should be hearing both pieces of evidence. In my opinion, the issue is not which side of the story is being taught, but the way its being taught. I am strongly opposed to bias in education. Students need to be taught how to formulate their own opinions and beliefs. They shouldn't be spoon-fed by pushy teachers who want to get their point across. Teachers can express their opinion by giving the facts and then they should also give the facts for the other side of the story.

Article From:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/11/22/teaching.thanksgiving.ap/index.html
Picture From:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.fairvote.org/media/misc/turkey.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.fairvote.org/%3Fpage%3D1388&h=238&w=200&sz=15&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=EOkMIZ2565xp7M:&tbnh=109&tbnw=92&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthanksgiving%2Bturkey%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG