A People’s Education

What The authors are advocating for natural process for education. Zinn is advocating for a fair and just knowledge on history. Zinn wants people to have their own voice when it comes to our history. History is the basis of our opinions. Just like we have experiences that form the basis of our opinions. Horton says that the educative process must be organic process, and not an assortment of unrelated methods and ideas, (pg. 130, The long haul). Zinn defines education as the important truth. Zinn believes that it is important for people to know the truth and the important facts about history. Zinn believes that decisions could be made in a better way because they will know that happened before and if it seems like a smart way to go about it. The authors are similar in that they both want more potential for people that are learning. They both want people to have more of an opportunity to know the truth to further their education. Horton says it is important to have relationships with people if you want to keep working with them. This shows that having a more interactive education is the key to a democratic society. “If we are to have a democratic society, people must find or invent new channels through which decisions can be made” (pg.134, The Long Haul).

So What? Zinn wanted to change the world, and he felt that he could do so by studying history. Zinn gives an example of the United States and how we are based off a quiz culture. “There are more important things to know about the Mexican War” (pg. 68, A people’s history of the United States). Essentially in this quote Zinn talk about how the United States quizzes the students on information that is not that important. There is a lot more to know about history and how we got to the place we are in for the United States. Zinn also gives an example of “being born yesterday.” Having our own opinions of history and life in general, make history. Being taught unimportant information, does not help a child grow to gain their own political experience. Also, this can make people believe anything they hear because we are conditioned to do this in school, to an extent. Zinn uses the term “objective historian.” He does this to say he did not want that, he wanted to get outside of the bubble and learn history a different way. This is important because it shows that he does not want to be part of the statistics on how children grow up learning about history. He wants to know what is really happening and form and opinion from that. “I do not believe in neutrality” (pg. 139, The long Haul). Horton says that neutrality is a word for accepting the status quo. He believes that this is a way that people are forced to believe what they believe.

Now What? Education is important for creating a democratic society in that students can now know what actually happened instead of what they are told. I believe this applies to my community partners because they want to teach their children that they can do anything and go anywhere as long as they try. Some political and economic aspects that affect my community partners are DACA and the low-income families. A majority of the students I work with are Hispanic and they are very young, if they are not under DACA it is most likely that they know someone who is. There is a lot of fear among families going on right now and will be for the next 6 months. Low income families in the canal, where I work, live with multiple families in very compact apartment or homes. These children have very tight living situations. Horton believes in a more holistic process for education. I can see that with my community partners because they are living what we are not told in the history books. “Stretching people’s minds is part of educating, but always in terms of a democratic goal” (The long Haul, pg. 132). Horton wants people to have the ultimate amount of information, the real information that means something. Having a democratic goal in mind allows people to exercise their rights. Freedom of speech and social equality are a few of the democratic goals we must keep in mind. Horton says, “When you provide people with opportunities to learn from themselves by making decisions, there are two central concepts: Freedom of speech and social equality,” Pg. 137. This quote is saying that the more truth we know about the world, we can have more positive exercise of our freedom.

���mw�Z$�H`

٧~5R��6