Suzanne Said:

What kind of job does our public school system do in teaching history?

We Answered:

Considering the fact that I know a 16 year old girl who didn't know what a Nazi was, I'll have to say yes.

Lori Said:

How does the job market look for teachers right now? Specifically teaching history at the high school level?

We Answered:

Don't go to CA. You get paid absolutely nothing. My teachers are always complaining about how they can barely afford to live here. Some teachers even had to move away to Oregon and places like that because the cost of living was too high. Also, history seems to be a subject that most teachers can teach considerably well so many of them do not get fired and there usually isn't a problem with the department. I don't think history is a highly needy subject. However, one history teacher that I know of did get hired at my friend's school.

Stella Said:

Why do the teach the same old crap in high school history classes instead of not teaching everything ?

We Answered:

If students of the '60s had been happy with what the establishment was teaching them, they wouldn't have needed to rebel against authority and try to change society as they did. I think no matter what you teach kids, there are always bound to be some gaps, just because the scope of history and culture is so broad, and 12 years is never as long as you think when compared with the vast amount of possible material to learn.

That said, it does appear that the powers that be think that American history is composed of three periods: colonial times, the Civil War, World War II.
Anything else you learn about is apparently icing on the cake. It is frustrating. On the other hand, most of the people you meet in life will be in the same boat you are.

Don't accept it. It's the job of the educational establishment to teach the same three things the state has decided you should know. It's your job to educate yourself. Find out what you want to know more about and go to it.

Terri Said:

What do you think of europe's revisionist history teaching that the US was the model for the Holocaust?

We Answered:

The fact is, every major country has done similar things (rewriting history) for propaganda purposes.

Do I like it? Hell no. Can I do much about it? No.

Andrew Said:

What would you consider on classes and History teaching?

We Answered:

Each state has their own requirements for teachers. Look on your state Dept of Ed website. In some, you need a bachelor's degree in Secondary Ed: Social Studies, and in others you would do you undergrad in history and then do a post-grad certification program. Your college will give you a list of required courses for the major and then you just take those.

In high school, take as many social studies courses as possible. Take the regular academic science courses like bio, chem, and earth science. Take one math class each year, and you should be fine. Three years of foreign language is required for some colleges. Also take child development or psych courses if your school offers them.