Yes, history matters !

The importance of History teachingThe article makes some good points on the importance of history teaching in the public schools.I wonder how many NPR listeners are familiar with this " critic " Irving Howe ? In one of his last books " A Margin of Hope " he explains why he never abandoned the socialist ideals of his youth. Howe could easily explain why our public schools are so shy about encouraging " critical thinking skills ". HISTORY teaches that public schools were meant to serve the needs of the rising industrial capitalist class. They needed literate, skilled workers but certainly not working class CRITICS.
Do you think low income Providence high school students will soon be reading excerpts from Howard Zinn's " A People History of the United States " ? Yes, slavery is gone but wage slavery described by Marx has not disappeared. Das Kapital is still relevant.
From a New York Jewish background, Howe became famous for his book " The World of Our Fathers ". He explained why so many Jewish " New York intellectuals " were drawn to the socialist movement during the Great Depression. Many were later victimized by the McCarthy anti-communist witchhunts of the 1950s. Yes, history matters !