How Labor’s Story is Distorted in High School History Textbooks

[antigop]

http://labor-studies.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/AmericanLabor.pdf

Not a single labor topic, except industrial vs. craft unions, was adequately described or
explained in the majority of textbooks. Not a single U.S. history text did more than mention
the political activities of unions, both historically and presently—despite the fact that the very
educational institution the student now occupies is, at least in part, a result of such activities.
Only two of the history texts went beyond mentioning that all-important labor-management
practice of free collective bargaining. — Will Scoggins
high school history teacher
and University of California researcher,
in a 1966 report on anti-labor bias in school textbooks and curricula

[mike_c]

1. my regional central labor council is working on educational outreach...

...to combat this very problem. It's in a very nascent state still, but we definitely recognize the need to educate folks about the labor movement.

[antigop]

2. good luck to you....it is definitely needed. You'll have to fight years of anti-union propaganda.

nt

[riverbendviewgal]

3. This is the book that American students need to read

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_People's_History_of_the_United_States

A People's History of the United States is a 1980 non-fiction book by American historian and political scientist Howard Zinn. In the book, Zinn seeks to present American history through the eyes of the common people rather than political and economic elites. A People's History has been assigned as reading in many high schools and colleges across the United States.[1] It has also resulted in a change in the focus of historical work, which now includes stories that previously were ignored.[2] The book was a runner-up in 1980 for the National Book Award. It has been frequently revised, with the most recent edition covering events through 2005. In 2003, Zinn was awarded the Prix des Amis du Monde Diplomatique for the French version of this book, Une histoire populaire des États-Unis.[3] More than two million copies have been sold.

In a 1998 interview, Zinn said he had set "quiet revolution" as his goal for writing A People's History. "Not a revolution in the classical sense of a seizure of power, but rather from people beginning to take power from within the institutions. In the workplace, the workers would take power to control the conditions of their lives."[4] In 2004, Zinn edited a primary source companion volume with Anthony Arnove, entitled, Voices of a People's History of the United States.

[CatholicEdHead]

4. I grew up and had next to no union history taught

It was only a couple years ago I found a couple labor history books a library was getting rid of that I picked up really cheap that I read and was brought up to speed through mostly 1956, with some in the 70's and 80's.

[LeftInTX]

5. We learned about it in Wisconsin in the 70s

In high school. We also read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

Also Wisconsin was home Bob LaFollette

I had a very positive view of the labor movement and it was from my education. This was despite the fact that my dad was management and was kind of anti-union.

The Jungle was an eye opener for me!

I wish every student would read The Jungle.
I hate to see this type of education erased from public schools.

[antigop]

6. Wisconsin’s teachers required to teach kids labor union and collective bargaining history

http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/24/wisconsin%E2%80%99s-teachers-required-to-teach-kids-labor-union-and-collective-bargaining-history/

Wisconsin’s teachers are required to teach children about the history of the labor union movement and collective bargaining in the United States, per a law former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle signed in December 2009. Wisconsin’s Assembly Bill (AB) 172 requires the state’s teachers to incorporate “the history of organized labor in America and the collective bargaining process” into their lesson plans.

Describing the new law, AB 172, Wisconsin’s official Department of Public Instruction (DPI) website says, “Wisconsin has long been a leader in labor rights. The Progressive Movement, which had its beginnings in our state, led to laws limiting child labor and safety in the workplace. Unions such as the AFL-CIO and Teamsters allow us to enjoy an eight-hour work week and vacation time. In fact, it has been argued by some historians that the history of the United States itself could be a history of labor.”

[LeftInTX]

7. Thx - I'm glad that it is still being taught in Wisconsin