Why has the story or legend of Christopher Columbus been so tarnished?
TYLER, TX (KLTV) – Celebrated for his bravery and ideas Christopher Columbus is a historic legend. He even has his own holiday. But, in classrooms across America, the early explorer is becoming more depicted as a villain. Many schools across the country no longer observe Columbus Day. Tyler Junior College history professor, Dr. Jeffrey Owens, agrees that in the last few decades, the legend and bravery of Christopher Columbus has become tarnished. “In a very negative environment where people thought of Columbus as a person who was just conquering people who should’ve been left alone, you know, all the sympathy for native Americans and all that…then he began to be seen as a bad person,” explained Owens. Lesson plans vary but some teachers say they’re trying to present a more realistic depiction, teaching that Columbus was responsible for the deaths of millions of native Americans and also brought over diseases. “Yes, the missionaries and Columbus and all the rest of them did bring smal
TYLER, TX (KLTV) – Celebrated for his bravery and ideas Christopher Columbus is a historic legend. He even has his own holiday. But, in classrooms across America, the early explorer is becoming more depicted as a villain. Many schools across the country no longer observe Columbus Day. Tyler Junior College history professor, Dr. Jeffrey Owens, agrees that in the last few decades, the legend and bravery of Christopher Columbus has become tarnished. “In a very negative environment where people thought of Columbus as a person who was just conquering people who should’ve been left alone, you know, all the sympathy for native Americans and all that…then he began to be seen as a bad person,” explained Owens. Lesson plans vary but some teachers say they’re trying to present a more realistic depiction, teaching that Columbus was responsible for the deaths of millions of native Americans and also brought over diseases. “Yes, the missionaries and Columbus and all the rest of them did bring smal
Celebrated for his bravery and ideas Christopher Columbus is a historic legend. He even has his own holiday. But, in classrooms across America, the early explorer is becoming more depicted as a villain. Many schools across the country no longer observe Columbus Day. Tyler Junior College history professor, Dr. Jeffrey Owens, agrees that in the last few decades, the legend and bravery of Christopher Columbus has become tarnished. “In a very negative environment where people thought of Columbus as a person who was just conquering people who should’ve been left alone, you know, all the sympathy for native Americans and all that…then he began to be seen as a bad person,” explained Owens. Lesson plans vary but some teachers say they’re trying to present a more realistic depiction, teaching that Columbus was responsible for the deaths of millions of native Americans and also brought over diseases. Sources: http://www.k
