A Textbook Case of Misinformation and Bias

[Reba]

... But, I never remembering reading anything about Deaf history or Deaf President Now movement or anything about the dark ages when ASL was taken out of Deaf schools and such... Is that not part of American history?

DPN happened in 1988. I assume that was after you graduated from high school.

But you're right that there wasn't any "Deaf history" or ASL teaching in the public schools back then. As a kid, of course I knew about Helen Keller. I first learned about sign language and deaf people when I took "AMESLAN" classes in 1968. I learned about DPN when I saw it live on the TV news.

 

[Reba]

That's so true, Vampy. Most history/geography books go like this:

Made up fourth grade text: Hidden Montana (Hoot & Miff 'Em Publishing, 2009)

Montana is the largest state in the United States, despite false claims of other jealous states.

Factoid: Alaska is not largest, because when its ice and snow melts (caused by Al Gore and his global warming) Alaska will be no larger than Rhode Island, not even visible from space.

Factoid: Texas is not larger, because if Montana's majestic mountains were flattened, Montana has 4.62% more usable space than Texas.

Factoid: California is not larger, because everyone knows it is two states: Southern California, all land south of a line from downtown Sacramento to San Jose (sand joe-see). Northern California is north of the line to Washington or Oregon, whichever comes first.

 

[Reba]

Extra thought: I for one, am insulted that text book writers have ommitted so much of American history from my own education. Had I been taught about the oppression of minorities earlier in life, I may have worked harder to change it.

It seems to me that most of my high school history classes were full of focusing on the oppressed in America, and in the world. We were taught about the oppressed native Americans (North, Central and South), black slaves, and segregation. We were taught how different ethnic groups of immigrants were oppressed when they first came to America. But I don't recall any specific lessons about oppression of physically handicapped people. We did learn about the oppression of mentally ill people, the poor, and the need for prison reform. Typical of the times, I guess.