A Real History Lesson by Jayda

A Real History Lesson by Jayda - July 2022 Scholarship Essay

Throughout your years in school, consider all the times that you have sat through a history lesson. Recall all of the civil rights worksheets, all the Native American projects, and all the Holocaust slideshows. Unfortunately for students like me, they will never experience the luxury of understanding both sides of history; but only the one-sided and biased teachings from schools. Specific learning guidelines comparable to these led me to the realization that diversity needs more emphasis in lessons taught in school history classes.
There are a few different ways to establish more diversified methods of teaching. Utilizing various techniques such as guest speakers, museum tours, or teaching the lesson from different perspectives. For example, an American history teacher can not lead their students to fully understand and comprehend cultural practices that they are not aware of; however, a native of that culture would be more accountable to impart that knowledge. Receiving assistance from individuals who are culturally knowledgeable and experienced in the circumstances, allows for them to teach and provide comprehension that will contribute to a distinction between both sides of teaching.
I believe implementing more diversity into History class teachings will help with future endeavors for students. I am not saying this is a race problem; however racially motivated movements such as “Black Lives Matter '' or “ Stop Asian Hate” would be more beneficial if taught by an individual who understands the push for the movement. A person that can accurately demonstrate concepts and understand the trauma and severity of that historical background can offer ethical teachings. For example, in subjects such as the Civil Rights Movement, I understand the background as a Black American, but students of different backgrounds may not have a deeper understanding like me. Therefore, leading to more profundity of learning a better interpretation that all these events occurred long ago, yet how those events still affect the present generation.
Unfortunately, there is no way of perfectly teaching history, where both sides are equally understood; however, there is always a way to improve it. Knowing why historical figures such as Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King Jr., and Sitting Bull advocated for their people's rights or why Nations like China are heavily devoted to traditions; will be better explained by those more knowledgeable of that background because it adds to the authenticity of their teaching methods. Although there will be validation by the knowledgeable person, various methods of learning will take place from the students. As a result, leading teachers to stray away from traditional general information teachings that lack interesting concepts.
Reflecting back on my experiences with history lessons that I am not culturally familiar with serves as a deciding factor in why I believe that implementing more innovative teaching methods will increase comprehension and overall learning with students. Most importantly, the addition of these new methods encourages teachers to structure their lessons differently; which in return will provide more enjoyable learning for students.