When I was a sheltered, ignorant 11 year-old, a teacher (a Richmond native) had us study the Civil War for a year—from a Confederate view. I became obsessed with Stuart, who I wrote a report on. The romance of his story was seductive.
Then I grew up. I'm glad his statue is gone.
Then I grew up. I'm glad his statue is gone.
PS/ It took me *years* to remember back to sixth grade and realize how wrong it was—even for the often backward 80s—for us to have studied the Civil War the way we did. It's scary how easily kids can become enchanted with tales whose context they aren't told and don't understand.
PS2/ I studied the Civil War at a rural Massachusetts elementary school. I can't imagine what Southern kids were learning in the 80s—though my Virginian teacher was giving us a taste. Those kids are now in their 40s—and I suspect some never realized they were being indoctrinated.
PS3/ Just realized I was actually 10 for the first 2 months of the school year, then turned 11 after much of the indoctrination had already happened. I barely remember us talking about slavery at all. It was all about the beauty and nobility and sense of freedom—!—of Southerners.
