"What is Vietnam?"

[essme]

Last edited Sun Feb 9, 2020, 09:36 AM - Edit history (1)

I am a middle school librarian.

My student demographic reflects the city I live in. Some very wealthy, mostly middle class, some in section 8 housing.

Last week, I was working with a small group of kids on technology--- four students. Again, these four were in the different demographic range as reflected by our city. We were just having fun, exploring some new chrome books, and discussing how they could use this technology in the media center for their classroom projects.

I was not paying attention to the banter, and was demonstrating a chrome app, when one of the kids said, "My Dad went to Vietnam and has issues." OK, Now I am listening. These students are not anywhere near old enough to have a parent that served in Vietnam. Maybe grandparents....if that. I might have heard him wrong- he might have said, "My GRAND Dad..."

What floored me was the response from the other three: "What IS Vietnam? I have heard of it......"

[handmade34]

1. and therein

lies many of our problems... history just isn't cool anymore

[essme]

2. I am working on that

nt

[democrank]

3. Good luck with that.

So important...

[dware]

4. Thank you for working on that.

I served in Vietnam and it's part of our country's history that should be taught in school, not swept under the rug like it never happened.

[handmade34]

8. Thank you!

I went back to school years ago to get my license to teach Social Studies and felt very restricted by the administration once I got into the schools... we so desperately need good teachers that can work within the system... getting to the kids and making it interesting is crucial

I sincerely appreciate those of you that can do that

[malaise]

14. History departments are shutting down in universities

Apparently only courses that help you make money matter

[Cirque du So-What]

5. Until the draft lottery and elimination of college deferment

those from families with financial means could always find a way to avoid service. I’m guessing the Vietnam vet’s child was from a working-class family.

[Ilsa]

6. Sometimes I think the lack of interest in History is because

of the giant and rapid leaps in technology. Not only does current technology distract and entertain, but kids have a difficult time imagining life with less technology to help solve problems or communicate quickly and efficiently.

Then again, maybe it is laziness.

[CTyankee]

7. It might as well be Troy...

[3Hotdogs]

9. The kids in my classes got it all, from Bao Dai, Dien Bein Pho to

war criminal, Kissenger and the fucking shape of the table at the peace conference.

[not_the_one]

12. THANK YOU!!!!!

[MiniMe]

10. I didn't really like history in high school, BUT

I took a few history classes in college and I loved them. I think it is that you go into depth into a small subject and it holds your attention. I was young during the vietnam war, one of my cousins was drafted. But the war had pretty much ended by the time I graduated high school

[ooky]

11. There are plenty of grandparents that served in Vietnam.

The ones who were lucky enough to come back.

[Blue_Adept]

13. Middle School is really unclear state to state

In one state, it's junior high

In another, it's 5-6, or 4-6.

Either way, looking at it from 2020 and figuring that the kids in question may be a decade or so old in question, or a touch older...

why would they know about Vietnam? It's often not taught in history until high school in most curriculums, and even during the 80s in my HS career.

It doesnt' come up often in regular culture anymore and especially not at material aimed at their age group.

It's akin to saying "They never heard of cassette decks" at this point.