A darker side of Columbus emerges in US classrooms

[proud2BlibKansan]

Jeffrey Kolowith's kindergarten students read a poem about Christopher Columbus, take a journey to the New World on three paper ships and place the explorer's picture on a timeline through history.

Kolowith's students learn about the explorer's significance - though they also come away with a more nuanced picture of Columbus than the noble discoverer often portrayed in pop culture and legend.

"I talk about the situation where he didn't even realize where he was," Kolowith said. "And we talked about how he was very, very mean, very bossy."

Columbus' stature in U.S. classrooms has declined somewhat through the years, and many districts will not observe his namesake holiday on Monday. Although lessons vary, many teachers are trying to present a more balanced perspective of what happened after Columbus reached the Caribbean and the suffering of indigenous populations.

more . . . http://www.kansascity.com/440/story/1502133.html

[msongs]

1. kids do not learn about the christian genocide against native americans n never will nt

[earthside]

3. Columbus was a man of his time ...

... and let's tell the truth, the "Christian" genocide was a Roman Catholic genocide. Because of that very uncomfortable truth the anti-Columbus folks focus all their wrath on him as an individual -- but he was just part of the whole panoply of European invaders given license to convert or kill by the theology articulated by the Pope.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. I disagree

My 8th graders just read about it last week. I was amazed to see it.

[Faygo Kid]

2. Good grief. Columbus was a flawed human being, and an excellent sailor.

The word "inevitable" comes to mind regarding Columbus. He was no hero, and he is not on a Hitler level, either.