So my Daughter is finally into learning!

Terex4 · 05-18-2009, 10:39 PM

Been awhile but I managed to leech an internet connection and find my way back here (Yay!). I could give a whole spiel about this crappy economy and all but I have a much more important mission in mind.

My 9 year old stepdaughter has recently taken an interest in culture and history. My wife was trying to figure out good methods of finding such information for her. Being without a stable internet connection and low on cash for books I thought up ways to get such information.

Naturally I thought about the international community we have here. If anyone wants to share some interesting tidbits of info or historical facts about their home nation my daughter would be absolutely delighted.

bluestarultor · 05-18-2009, 10:57 PM

I'd honestly say the best idea would be to pop for a library card and have her go to town. It's well worth the investment.

As for interesting tidbits of American history, you could start her off with the fact the Civil War wasn't about slavery. It was about states' rights. The abolition of slavery by Abraham Lincoln was an act to get Britain on the side of the North, as Britain had recently abolished slavery, themselves. As well as that, many black slaves had been joining the Northern army as they encountered it, providing valuable manpower.

Sadly, these are topics her school books will likely gloss over, because schools lie to students all the time. I could say a lot about Columbus, too, but those things might get her so much as suspended. Truly a failing of the American school system.

(Um, you ARE American, right?

)

Edit: (Yes? Okay, cool!

)

Kepor · 05-18-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

As for interesting tidbits of American history, you could start her off with the fact the Civil War wasn't about slavery. It was about states' rights.

About state's rights. Namely, the right to slavery.

Sure, it's a lot more complicated than that one statement suggests, and the North was not the great crusader for freedom that general knowledge would have, but many of the issues leading to the South's secession were rooted in slavery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

I could say a lot about Columbus, too, but those things might get her so much as suspended. Truly a failing of the American school system.

Native American and Pre-Columbian society is a particularly interesting topic, and usually butchered in most high school history courses. If she has any interest in that area of history, it's always worth looking into. 1491 is a pretty good starting book.

Azisien · 05-18-2009, 11:26 PM

Well Libraries are free in Canada as far as I know, so if its similar in the States and money is the primary issue, then get library books.

Osterbaum · 05-18-2009, 11:39 PM

Finland gained it's independence less than 100 years ago, in december the 6th 1917 after having been part of the Russian Empire as and autonomous Grand Duchy since 1809. Before that, for as long as a nation called Finland had existed it had been a part of the Swedish Empire since as long back as the 1200's. After gaining it's independence, Finland had a brief but bloody civil war in the first half of 1918, reds vs. whites, which the whites won. Finland then became a constitutional republic later during 1918 after briefly having been a monarchy during the summer.

Never ask a (well informed) finn to tell you about their own history. Trust me, I could go on.

Wigmund · 05-18-2009, 11:53 PM

Can't remember correctly, but don't you live in Fayetteville Terex?

If so, the Fayetteville Public Library is free to use and check out from (it's one of the many reasons sales taxes are so high here

).

And I can't remember if it is free to check out books for non-students, the University's Mullins Library is also open to the public. Pity the old museum was shut down several years ago

And in the Fayetteville Public Library there is free internet access, and I think there's a way you can get registered to use the University's computers in Mullins - gotta ask the staff about that, I was just there as a student, also worked there during the past school year, there's a shit-load of books covering most anything your girl'd like to now about.

synkr0nized · 05-19-2009, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osterbaum

Never ask a (well informed) finn to tell you about their own history. Trust me, I could go on.

You should some time. Finland is a country I know very little about.

Meister · 05-19-2009, 02:27 AM

You see, in 1938... stop me if you've heard this one before...

synkr0nized · 05-19-2009, 02:30 AM

Oh, oh, is this the part where we constantly belittle you for being a totalitarian, a Nazi, hating the world, etc.?

Osterbaum · 05-19-2009, 02:41 AM

If we start talking about WWII, then I think it should be mentioned that during the years 1941-1944 Finland was part of the Axis. Why and how is a much more complicated matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by synk

You should some time. Finland is a country I know very little about.

Be careful what you wish for. But maybe I will sometime.

05-18-2009, 11:39 PM	#5
Osterbaum The revolution will be memed! Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: FIN Posts: 5,967	Finland gained it's independence less than 100 years ago, in december the 6th 1917 after having been part of the Russian Empire as and autonomous Grand Duchy since 1809. Before that, for as long as a nation called Finland had existed it had been a part of the Swedish Empire since as long back as the 1200's. After gaining it's independence, Finland had a brief but bloody civil war in the first half of 1918, reds vs. whites, which the whites won. Finland then became a constitutional republic later during 1918 after briefly having been a monarchy during the summer. Never ask a (well informed) finn to tell you about their own history. Trust me, I could go on. __________________ D is for Dirty Commie!

05-18-2009, 11:53 PM	#6
Wigmund Lakitu Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Northwest Arkansas Posts: 2,139	Can't remember correctly, but don't you live in Fayetteville Terex? If so, the Fayetteville Public Library is free to use and check out from (it's one of the many reasons sales taxes are so high here ). And I can't remember if it is free to check out books for non-students, the University's Mullins Library is also open to the public. Pity the old museum was shut down several years ago And in the Fayetteville Public Library there is free internet access, and I think there's a way you can get registered to use the University's computers in Mullins - gotta ask the staff about that, I was just there as a student, also worked there during the past school year, there's a shit-load of books covering most anything your girl'd like to now about. __________________ Slightly off-kilter

05-19-2009, 02:30 AM	#9
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	'cause all Germans are, amirite Oh, oh, is this the part where we constantly belittle you for being a totalitarian, a Nazi, hating the world, etc.? __________________ Find love.

05-18-2009, 11:26 PM	#4
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	Well Libraries are free in Canada as far as I know, so if its similar in the States and money is the primary issue, then get library books.

05-19-2009, 02:27 AM	#8
Meister Pure joy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 10,689	You see, in 1938... stop me if you've heard this one before...