The review of history books reveals some serious distortions in the reporting of historical events in order to suit the views of people aligned to different ideological stands. For instance, there is the removal of the word “slave” from some books and its replacement with “enslaved person” in order to avoid angering human rights activists (Stille, 2). Such distortions are odd because history ought to report things as they were in order to allow people to make corrections of past mistakes.
It is interesting that history books meant for children are written not with the children primarily on the mind but the panels that approve of books to be read in schools. It is also interesting that books means for some states such as Texas and California may have the word “imagine” banished for fear that the locals might relate it to “magic” and render the word ‘imagine” as antichrist (Stille, 2). These issues among many others portray a lot of hypocrisy in the writing of historical content especially that which is meant for mass reading.
I have learnt of the Thorndike’ test which guards against the use of difficult words in books meant for elementary school children. The retention of such tests ought to continue in order to enhance children’s’ understanding of historical facts but the facts should not be altered. This is so because there can be no definite end to altering historical reporting since issues and ideological stands change.
There could have been several million Native Americans spread in several productive parts of the country by the time Christopher Columbus set foot on the US. These people were brave, resilient, innovative, artistic and hardworking. This description is based on the fact that the natives had managed to live peacefully, grown in populations and thrived as communities for many years long before any form of civilization ever reached them.
Works Cited
Stille, Alexander Betrayal of History. New York review of Books. Vol 45, Number 10. June 11, 1998.
