“People perish for lack of knowledge” is perhaps taken out of context from the Bible, but I think it fits ably here in this situation for this day. Once a teacher, always a teacher, so I have looked at this situation before our nation, that of teaching patriotism or not, as an educator, a parent, a grand parent, and a citizen of the best nation on the Earth. I conclude that teaching patriotism again is a must if we are to combat much of what is happening in the nation and around us.
Critical thinking is a buzz word for anyone in education today. We gear much of what we do in the classroom to encourage students to think, think, think in a critical way. We offer resources from different perspectives, we encourage discussion, and we write persuasive essays based on facts. Well, where have we missed it? Facts seem to be confused with feelings now. History seems confused with hatred of our forefathers rather than looking at these individuals as fallen human beings who made the best decisions with what they had at the time.
I recall so many times over my years of teaching my asking students to look at different characters, settings for the story being read, and theme while they were reading. Wanting them to base their answers to discussion questions on more than their opinions, I asked for thought to be put into the characters in context of their situation and settings (time period, place, etc). When I think about teaching patriotism, I think about the same thing. Stay with me.
Why are we allowing cherry-picking of information rather than taking history as a whole? Have textbooks and documents become so watered-down that students really have not been taught truth? Are colleges and universities purposefully gaslighting and censoring accurate information to fit a narrative that the USA was a failed experiment?
What is wrong with teaching our children that it is ok, and even admirable, to love our country, our flag, and our national anthem? People gave up lives around the world to come here to begin a new nation that I personally believe was based on Christian principles (based on research of documents and biographies ). No, they were not perfect people. No, I don’t understand why native Americans were pushed from their land. No, I don’t agree with slavery.
BUT, I do know that 1776 is a special date for America and that we live under a Constitution that has proven effective until, it seems, now. What has been the catalyst for this change? Have we as parents and educators not taught our children to love our land? Have we become so conditioned to political correctness that we are willing to accept the status quo when it comes to teaching true history?
I was always told that just because I didn’t believe something didn’t mean it wasn’t true. Well, I believe closing our ears, eyes, and minds to facts doesn’t change the fact that certain events happened and that certain people lived and died to form a more “perfect union.”
When determining whether to teach, or even talk about, patriotism today, my suggestion is to start at the beginning of our nation, even before it became a nation, and read, read , read every factual document we can find to remind us what is true. Think on those things. Look at individuals, study the settings and timelines in context, research major wars and the factual reasons for those wars. Take notes. Become a fanatic about history. Learn. Relearn.
Granted, if our forefathers had today’s perspective in the 18th century, they perhaps would’ve made some different decisions, but they did not have that. They were products of their times, just as we are. Remember the old adage, “Those who fail to remember history are bound to repeat it.” I think that is where we are today. On every hand, it seems that our historical foundation is being erased brick by brick or we might say “statue by statue,” and the Constitution is being treated like a college essay written for a moment only to be forgotten.
Start now. Determine to learn and share our history. Our children deserve the truth. Maybe you are called to write a textbook that is accurate, based on truth. Maybe you are considering homeschooling your children. Perhaps you have thought about starting a book club based on historical novels and documents. Whatever it is, do it. Start. We do not need to perish for lack of knowledge. In case you wonder where I stand, yes, patriotism needs to be taught by those who love our nation and those who have no agenda or narrative other than “training up a child in the way he should go.”
May God bless the USA.