The problem is that in much of the west, they're absolutely not. Where I live, public schools (particularly high schools) are outrageously politically biased. It's as pervasive and absolute as fundamentalist religion.
Since they are primarily funded locally, I can see why local taxpayers hold so much sway. Feds pay about 8%, right?
When we look at history it is important to understand at least a little bit of religion to understand motivation.
Agreed. How can we understand the Barbary Wars, the Ottoman Empire or the Sykes-Picot Agreement if we don't understand the Islam?
Funny story I learned if none of that in school or in college it was when I was working nights as a security guard and was bored and wanted to learn about them I read about them on the Internet. I am a product of public schooling and I find it really astounding how lacking the education system in my state at least really is.
Elementary and High School are just the beginning. It should give students the basics of learning and the ability to get a minimum wage job.
There are no history electives. You have to seek education outside of institutions to receive serious detail.
Yes. What country is that? Because in the USA, schools are mainly locally, meaning state or county, funded with only 8% of funding coming from federal sources. https://www2.ed.gov/about/overview/fed/role.html Education is primarily a State and local responsibility in the United States. It is States and communities, as well as public and private organizations of all kinds, that establish schools and colleges, develop curricula, and determine requirements for enrollment and graduation. The structure of education finance in America reflects this predominant State and local role. Of an estimated $1.15 trillion being spent nationwide on education at all levels for school year 2012-2013, a substantial majority will come from State, local, and private sources. This is especially true at the elementary and secondary level, where about 92 percent of the funds will come from non-Federal sources.
Not America. Our public schools (and hospitals) are federally funded, with a modicum of state governance.
Our public high schools offer both modern and ancient history (two separate elective subjects). Both are fairly weighty courses, adding reasonable marks to overall graduation ranking.
I dunno. I don't agree with you on anything but you are always nice. Actually give good arguments for your side unlike others.
If you want detail and haven't discovered Barbara Tuchman's writings yet you are in for a real treat. Additionally, the volumes can usually be found in inepensive used editions because they have been around for awhile. She is probably best known A Distant Mirror, about the Middle Ages, but IMO some of her other books are even better. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_W._Tuchman
You don't agree with me on anything? You do know I'm a conservative right? Anyway there's no need to be hostile about things. A discussion is about finding truth and I believe truth should be accepted. It isn't always pretty. Thanks for the compliment.
Foreigners ? of what Country ? Or of what Planet and of what system ? Somehow perhaps an anomaly has formed a wormhole between quadrants and we are communicated with the far off ancient civilization of the Crankonians, and are speaking with Ambassador Crank of matters related to that World, making further comment fruitless.
Non-US. In this case, Canucks -- people who still have the Queen of England on their money just like Aussies.