Columbus Day and a Different Way to Approach It

In most schools growing up, we have all learned about Columbus Day. After many years of schooling and growing up, we end up being enlightened on the truth. So the question remains, why are teachers continually educating the wrong facts about Columbus Day and why are they not telling their students the whole truth? Well, some teachers just don't want to take the road most traveled. In my opinion shame on them. I do not plan on becoming a teacher but as I am hoping to be a parent one day, I will do nothing but teach my children the truth about situations and tell them the whole truth. I am a firm believer that if you tell a person a lie, even of omission, then they will look back at you later on and not completely trust what one says from there on out. Teachers, parents, and many other people are seeing how we are trying to better our education system for the children and future students, so why not start there? Start by telling your students the truth about a situation. It's like telling someone oh don't smoke marijuana because it will effect your lungs. That's not all the side effects entirely. It decreases memory and is known as a gateway drug meaning that it can lead to more harmful drugs. People need to know the truth and the whole truth. In the article "We Have No Reason to Celebrate and Invasion" Harjo says, "Teachers need to respect the truth. What happens if I'm sitting in a classroom and teachers are telling me that Thomas Jefferson was one of the greatest men in the world, and I also know that he owned slaves, but they don't tell me that? What am I going to do when I'm told "don't use or abuse drugs or alcohol?" Will I think there may be another side to that too? (13)." This is a perfect example of how I feel and how I think that certain kids will feel when they find out they have not learned the whole truth. It doesn't matter if that lesson pertains to their life or if it does not affect their life directly, not telling the truth completely is a lie of omission. In another article that I read called "What Not to Teach About Native Americans" enlightened me about how this teaching of Columbus Day can show students how to discriminate. When I am a parent I will make it my duty and promise in life to show my kids that a human is a human. It does not matter their eye color, skin color, goals in life, their background, who their family is. A human being is a human being. Columbus Day was not a victory of the establishment for the Europeans but it was also a time where a large group of people, lost property, loved ones, their freedom, and etc. Our past, current, and future students will benefit from the truth of this lesson in history.