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I was out riding last night in Concord when I came upon a site with a concrete marker dedicated to Franklin Pierce.
After a little more research I find that the good Mr Pierce once defended this self same homestead as follows
In April 1865, a mob gathered outside Pierce's home in Concord, demanding to know why he had not raised a flag to show his grief. Pierce grew angry, expressing sadness over Lincoln's death but denying any need for a public gesture. He told them that his history of military and public service proved his patriotism, which was enough to quiet the crowd ( it should be pointed out here that Pierce was a democrat and as such pro slavery )
The question that arose is.. why wasn't I taught anything about him in school? In fact why didn't my Public school system educate me in particular about local history?
Another question for you now, especially you with kids in school.. do you think the schools are doing enough to teach about this states own history?
I was out riding last night in Concord when I came upon a site with a concrete marker dedicated to Franklin Pierce.
After a little more research I find that the good Mr Pierce once defended this self same homestead as follows
In April 1865, a mob gathered outside Pierce's home in Concord, demanding to know why he had not raised a flag to show his grief. Pierce grew angry, expressing sadness over Lincoln's death but denying any need for a public gesture. He told them that his history of military and public service proved his patriotism, which was enough to quiet the crowd ( it should be pointed out here that Pierce was a democrat and as such pro slavery )
The question that arose is.. why wasn't I taught anything about him in school? In fact why didn't my Public school system educate me in particular about local history?
Another question for you now, especially you with kids in school.. do you think the schools are doing enough to teach about this states own history?
Any history that is taught in public schools is revisionist history any ways. It's a self serving system hell bent on pumping out good little socialists.
I had the opposite experience with my son in another state. He was required to take Washington State History in the 8th grade and for HS graduation, but never had to take any other history class. My husband is such a huge history buff and documentaries are the main entertainment for us, so the gap was filled, but we thought it odd that the state's history was considered so important (especially when it is so boring compared to some of the other states!).
I agree with the other posters, parents can and should teach their children history. There is nothing better than a family field trip to a historic site or geologically significant area.
I grew up in NH and we had a required "New Hampshire Civics" course in high school. Most of it was revolutionary history and how state government works. I do love that there are tons of historical markers around NH, too, so there's always a chance you can learn something just wandering around town.
I had the opposite experience with my son in another state. He was required to take Washington State History in the 8th grade and for HS graduation, but never had to take any other history class. My husband is such a huge history buff and documentaries are the main entertainment for us, so the gap was filled, but we thought it odd that the state's history was considered so important (especially when it is so boring compared to some of the other states!).
I agree with the other posters, parents can and should teach their children history. There is nothing better than a family field trip to a historic site or geologically significant area.
Oh I agree about the family field trips but I think a school field trip to a local massacre site makes more sense then say one to Fenway park
Every year on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, the Franklin Pierce Brigade (historical society) together with representatives of the NH National Guard, the NH Governor's Horse Guards and shool childen from a local elementary school participate in a wreath laying at Pierce's grave in Concord. The wreath is supplied through the White House. Kids read poems, Natl' Guard personnel make a speech and the Governor's Horse Guard, in Civil War Cavalry uniforms, fire volleys over the grave using replica civil war carbines.
The ceremony, which starts at 10 AM finishes and people can retire to the Pierce Manse for coffee and cake, cookies, brownies, etc. supplied by the Pierce brigade. There you can see artifacts related to President Pierce.
It is scheduled again for this year on Tuesday , Sept. 25.
This ceremony has been going on annually the past 15 years but it gets very little attention. I have been participating since about 2001 and have never seen a NH Governor attend even though it is only about 1/2 mile from the State House.
I grew up in NH and we had a required "New Hampshire Civics" course in high school. Most of it was revolutionary history and how state government works. I do love that there are tons of historical markers around NH, too, so there's always a chance you can learn something just wandering around town.
I found a blog a year or so ago about a guy visiting NH historical markers, he passed away in 2010.
We learned NH history in ...4th grade? Curious where in the state you went to school, but we certainly covered Pierce, and Rumford and the siting of the capitol, etc. Imagine if Salisbury had instead been selected as the capitol's site?
In any case, historians consider him one of the least effective presidents - he wasn't just a one-term president, he didn't even get his own party's nomination for a second term. Possible that's just bad luck - maybe he would have been a great president in a different era.
In any case, NH wasn't blessed with a Lincoln or a Jefferson - possible Pierce doesn't get more coverage in school because our schools aren't that good, or its possible what few lessons there are to learn about Pierce's 'reign' are beyond the scope of your average 4th grader.
That date just went into my calendar. I first heard of President Pierce in my history classes in Altamont, NY in the '50's.
FWIW - I am collecting pictures of the Historical markers as I ride my motorcycle around the State.
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