http://www.libraryola.com/files/WeedingFairfax.ppt#257,2,Fairfax County’s need to weed

At our local bookstore (a B&N), over the years they slowly moved the history section further back. It used to be up front. Now it’s the next to last row in the store, and went down from two shelving sections to one. What’s up front?

Harry Potter
Left Behind
Arts and Entertainment stuff

You get the idea. Kids and adults want bubblegum these days. It reminds me of the segment that Jay Leno would do – asking folks on the street history questions to see their answers. Hearing teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s people say that 1776 was when Columbus discovered Florida is truly revolting. That ain’t Bush’s fault… if people weren’t so caught up in their entertainment, parents took an active interest in their kids’ education, and the schools spent more than, say, one class on the Civil War, maybe we wouldn’t be churning out morons by the thousands.

J.D.

The majority of titles were ‘not available’. There were a few books on McKinley and the war but shown as being in the children’s section. THat puzzled me but we jotted down some numbers and walked over to where the little people were playing games on the computers. I asked the librarian why the books were in the children’s section and she responded that the 5th and 6th graders used the books for their required book reports. As one might imagine, the books were in large, bold print with some nice pictures, about 20-30 pages in length and they were in the right place.

So, how about the same subjects in the adult section? Not enough people are interested so the library doesn’t acquire those books. Straight from the mouth of the librarian in Colorado Springs.

Hard to believe.

The parents. And as a parent myself, I can unequivocally state that. Parents don’t take enough active interests in their children’s education. It’s often understandable when both parents have to work, but not taking some time to check into your child’s progress and education is inexcusable.

When Bush leaves, America’s kids won’t suddently become brilliant. Don’t kid yourself. Hey, the highschoolers today were in grade school when Clinton was President, so do we blame him too? And the college students were in high school then.

Ask parents just how familiar they are with their kids’ schooling. What are they currently studying in history this week?

I think you’ll find the answer to much that is pathetic.

J.D.

Jim Morgan

Those are fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing them. I laughed out loud as I read them.

Eric

When Lincoln was elected, Georgia met and decided to succeed.

The First Battle of Manassas took place at the injunction in Manassas.

George B. McClellan launched the Penisular Campaign. The Union Army, Robert E. Lee commanding, retreated.

The cavalry attack was led by Jab Stuart.

At the Battle of Antietam, John B. Gordon held “Bloody Lane,” and was wounded in the face. That gave him a scare for the rest of his life.

U.S. Grant steadily climbed the military leader until President Lincoln made him general in chief of all the Federal forces.

The witty General Joe Johnston figured out a way to oppose the massive Union forces.

The dead at Kenesaw Mountain were buried in their gold watches, and finely dressed officers in their chains.

Confederate headquarters in Atlanta lost continence with Sherman’s movement.

The southerners at the battle of New Market had to be reinforced by cadets from the Virgin Military Academy.

In my personal view slavery ended when the north won the Civil War.

The Ku Klux Klan is a chapter in history that for the most part is ignored tentionally and unintentionally.

That’s absolutely priceless.

Care to share a few more with us?

Eric

But, then, we do have RE Lee’s letters to his cousin Markie to explain…

JFE