Maine Perspective Front Page
Class Book Author on Campus March 30 for Public Talks
Class book author James Loewen will be on campus Tuesday, March 30 for a series of public events designed to continue and extend the discussion about the accuracy and presentation of history in textbooks.
"It is energizing to have the class book author visit campus," says Harvey Kail, professor of English and chair of the Class Book Committee. "A visit makes it possible for those interested to follow up on ideas and questions the book raises. It extends the conversation that we have been having."
To write Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, Loewen reviewed 12 high school textbooks and found that students are not getting an accurate view of American history from many traditional texts. Loewen examines how such textbooks deal with or ignore such subjects as racism, Christopher Columbus and the federal government.
During his visit to campus, Loewen will be given a demonstration of the University's distance learning technology and the Web course based on the class book.
His public presentations begin at 4 p.m. with "James Loewen: Face to Face," an opportunity for members of the University community to ask questions and talk with the author. The informal conversation session will further the campuswide debate now taking place via electronic communication on FirstClass and in classes.
That evening, Loewen will have dinner with students from the Continuing Education Division's Class Book Community Programs, which were held in Orono, Portland and Camden.
At 7:30 p.m., Loewen will make a public presentation, "Writing Lies, Reading Lies: The Making of Lies My Teacher Told Me and the Effects It Has Had." The lecture will be 101 Neville Hall.