For example, for hundreds of years people have praised him and gave him credit for something he really didn't do. For years now schools have been teaching students that Columbus was this amazing man that found all this gold and discovered new lands. However, they do not know the truth about Christopher Columbus. In fact, Christopher Columbus unintentionally discovered America. I didn't know much about Christopher Columbus in the beginning but when it was taught to us in school the lessons were brief and only discussed the "positive " things that he has done. But it wasn't until I read James Loewen's book when I learned that ewe have been deceived all these years by books, museums, videos, movies and of course teachers. His book made me think further into details and do further research on the lessons taught in history books and classes. After research, I learned that Christopher Columbus actually left Spain in search of Asia and India. When he arrived at what is now Haiti along with his crew for their second voyage, they demanded gold, food as well as sex from the woman and anything else they wanted from the Indians. Those who didn't obey them were punished. There is a huge problem with this because most people don't know the type of person Christopher Columbus really was yet they celebrate him every year. There is not one reason for books and schools to be hiding the reality from people especially young minds because they are the most vulnerable. I believe teachers start teaching students at a young age because they know that young minds are gullible and believe almost everything they hear without questioning it. To sum this issue up, more thought should be put into the lessons being taught. Nothing but the truth should be taught in books and classrooms. Also, everyone should open their minds and eyes beyond what they read and hear. Because students are being lied to anyway, one might question the purpose of having history still being taught in the classrooms.
James Loewen, a former history professor, wrote a book titled, The Lies My Teacher Told Me, in which he argues that almost all textbooks and teachers continue to place too much emphasis on the heroics of Columbus without mentioning his misdeeds. ...