The Portrayal of Christopher Columbus in Elementary School Education

2359 Words5 Pages

Christopher Columbus has been portrayed in different ways at

various times throughout history. In his own time he was not

famous for "discovering" a new land, but hundreds of years later

he is. Slightly over one hundred years ago the United States

proudly celebrated the quatercentury. Approximately 24 million

people attended a great international exposition in Chicago

marking the event (Thernstrom, 1992). In stark contrast is the

controversy that was ignited over the 500 year anniversary of

Columbus' voyages. In the very recent past how Columbus is

presented has begun to change. Up until the late 1980's Columbus

was portrayed as a great discover. "Even when the Spanish were

seen as cruel and greedy, Columbus was pictured as clean-handed

and fine minded" (Yolen, 1992). The voyages of Columbus were

represented as the "heroic" beginning of an overseas expansion of

European peoples that brought "civilization" to an uncivilized

part of the world (Nash, 1992). This image of Columbus began to

be examined by educators, authors, historians, politicians, and

church groups as the Quincentenary - 500 year anniversary of

Columbus encountering the America's- approached. Many believe

that the natives story should be taught- detailing the atrocities

committed by the Spanish. Others believe that the traditional

image of Columbus should be respected and taught to young school

children. Still others feel that a more realistic and balanced

view of Columbus's encounter and the subsequent events should be

portrayed in schools across the country.

There are those who want to change the image of Christopher

Columbus in childrens textbooks and trade books from that of a

hero to a man responsible for invasi...

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History Teacher Feb. v25 n2

Morris, Jimmy, O. (1992) A Magnificent Encounter Teaching K-8

October p66

Nash, Gary B. (1992) The Consequences of 1492 Social Studies and

the Young Learner March/April p3-5

Ricklin, Leslie P., and Miller, S.P. (1992) Discovering

Columbus Teaching K-8 October p62-64

Thernstrom, Stephan (1992) The Columbus Controversy American

Education Spring p24

Washburn, Wilcomb E. (1984) "Preparations and Problems of

Preparing for the 500th Anniversary of Columbus's Discovery of

America Paper presented at the Meeting of the Fifth

International Reunion for the Histroy of the Meeting of Nautical

Science andHydrography, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Woll, Christina B. (1992) Teacher's Bookshelf Social Studied

and the Young Learner March/April p29-30

Yolen, Jane (1992) History's Other Voice Instructor. Sept. p41

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