Date of Award
Summer 2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Transformative Education and Social Change
Committee Chairperson
John Elmore, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Jason Wozniak, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Dana Morrison, Ph.D.
Abstract
This Critical Action Research (CAR) thesis combines my personal experience and the research of others to investigate the problems surrounding history textbooks. American History textbooks do a poor job of holistically explaining the past and often default to what publishers consider “safe” or “neutral” points of view. Textbooks present history from a white-male perspective lifting those stories while disregarding, discounting, white-washing, or ignoring the contributions, impacts, or experiences of people of color. After analyzing this concern I will discuss solutions and alternatives to history textbooks and why I have concluded that it is best practice to leave these books on the shelves (or in a burn pit) where they belong.
Recommended Citation
Everly, Troy, "Books we should actually burn: why history textbooks are best left on the shelves" (2023). West Chester University Master’s Theses. 295.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_theses/295