Young Peoples History of the US???? HELP

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  • August 21, 2011 at 11:04 pm
    kymom
    Member

    Has anyone read Howard Zinn’s A Young Peoples History of the United States? I bought it a year ago and it’s been on the shelf since. I thought we could use it as a read together, but I just read some negative reviews on the web and just wondered if any of you had read it? It spans from Columbus to the Twin Towers. So it would take a whole year maybe two. I actually like it so I hope it’s accurate information, we could always start towards the back of the book near WW2.

    I am lost as to what to do for history,  we are doing LLAT, I don’t want to read all day, I would like them to have some hands on activities.   Any suggestions?

    Thanks,

    Becky

    August 21, 2011 at 11:46 pm
    Gem
    Participant

    I have read Zinn’s A People’s History, and I have vol 1 of A Young People’s History (some editions are broken down into vol. 1 and 2, sounds like yours is the whole thing in one book).  I can’t imagine Howard Zinn having any facts wrong, but the perspective may not be to some people’s liking.  If you have read it and like it, then I would say, go ahead! I like it as well!  

    There is a site for teaching materials to go along with the Zinn book, and I highly recommend the movie “The People Speak” as well.  It is very moving and makes you feel pride in the actions of Americans in our past.

     

    August 22, 2011 at 12:08 am
    Bookworm
    Participant

    I’ve read this.  I hate to tell you, but it was in a class on how history books can be skewed.  🙂 I’ve also read his autobiography, You Can’t Be Neutral on a Moving Train.  He may be just a bit to the right of Noam Chomsky–but not much.  He was very, very left-wing.  He does make some good points at times.  You will need to be prepared to discuss a number of issues in great detail, like Native Americans, slavery, and he is extremely anti-war and his book reflects this (one of the better points in his favor IMO, but it is a wildly different perspective than most homeschool resources).

    Here are some articles you may wish to read in deciding what to do with the book:

    http://hnn.us/articles/1493.html

    http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=939

    http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/258  ( a video of the author)

    http://spectator.org/archives/2010/08/02/the-case-against-howard-zinn

    You can certainly use this book; many schools have.  I think you should know what you are getting, and I think Professor Zinn would support that too–he didn’t believe in objectivity.  He had an agenda.  You can use this book as long as 1) you know what that agenda is so that you can 2) agree with it, or disagree with it, as you go. 

     

     

    August 22, 2011 at 2:28 am
    kymom
    Member

    Thanks Gem and Bookworm, you each have given me something to think about. I will watch the video and read all the links. I really ejoy the conversations the boys and I have when we read about and discuss issues such as slavery and war,  it really helps draw our whats in their hearts and mind. For their ages they are really deep thinkers : )  Who knew deciding which history book to use would be such a big decision. LOL

    Becky

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