What should we teach about US historical figures? I've heard anything from:
- Teach everything about them, good and bad
- Don't teach about them at all
- Only teach the bad?
- Only teach the good
Can we teach a whole truth? Can we teach what historical figures did that was momentous, while also illustrating what they did we wouldn't accept today?
I asked for quotes regarding the topic, these are what I got. The explanations are from an LLM, not me.
Against judging with modern eyes:
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, philosopher
- This emphasizes the importance of understanding the values and norms of the past to avoid similar mistakes in the present.
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” – Lord Acton, historian
- This highlights the dangers of judging historical figures in positions of power without acknowledging the corrupting influences of their roles and times.
“One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious.” – Carl Jung, psychologist
- This suggests that acknowledging the darker aspects of history, including the flaws of historical figures, is crucial for true understanding.
“We must judge a man by the circumstances of his own time, and not by those of ours.” – Thomas Macaulay, historian
- This emphasizes the importance of historical context when evaluating the actions and choices of historical figures.
“The historian seeks to find out, not whether a thing is good or bad, but how and why it came to be.” – Leopold von Ranke, historian
- This emphasizes the historian's objective of understanding the motivations and context behind historical events, rather than applying modern moral judgments.
For a balanced approach:
“We must acknowledge the sins of our past without losing sight of the progress we’ve made.” – Barack Obama, former US President
- This advocates for acknowledging both the achievements and failings of historical figures while recognizing the evolving moral landscape.
“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion.” – Nelson Mandela, former South African President
- This points to how societal norms and prejudices can shape the actions of historical figures, even those who ultimately condemned those same structures.
“Let us put our faith in the intelligent progress of the colored race, not only in self-improvement, but in the capacity to forgive and forget the bitter past.” – B.T. Washington, educator and activist
- This encourages a nuanced approach that honors progress while acknowledging historical injustices without dwelling solely on blame and resentment.
“The moral judgment of every historical action must be based on the knowledge of the period in which it was committed.” – Karl Marx, philosopher
- This argues that understanding the knowledge and beliefs available to historical figures is crucial for making fair moral judgments.
“History is a gallery of portraits, in which the various faces appear dissimilar only because they are seen in different lights.” – Thomas Carlyle, writer
- This reminds us that historical perception can be subjective and influenced by the lens through which we view the past.##
I think the most accurate information we have should be taught in school, whether it paints the person in a poor or positive light. However, while considering the negative things that influential historical figures have been involved in is important, I believe that teachers should avoid historical presentism as much as possible, and explain to their students how moral standards have changed over time. It's stupid and useless to get angry about people who lived hundreds of years ago because they didn't share our modern moral standards.