Exactly. It
is debatable, but my DD definitely does
not believe that it is so, based on her own understanding and research into the international economic picture and what
other economists/historians have as opinions on the subject. Her course textbook certainly suggested that it is an untrue statement, by the way, and she supported
her position with ample citations, which went above and beyond the assignment, even. The teacher just wanted something very specific.
It just seemed pretty obvious to DD that her AP history teacher was being driven far more by ideology than by grading her work fairly and objectively at that point. She was indignant.
This was confirmed, by the way, when she (experimentally) presented HUAC and McCarthy as "well-intended and effective, if maligned by some radical elements of society" a week or two later in the term.
To enthusiastic, gushing praise from the instructor, I must say.
LOL. It just about killed DD to write those words, little socialist and future ACLU member that she is.
Ultimately, she may not have learned a lot of history, but she DID learn to craft a compelling and disingenuous essay for a particular audience, whilst in the pursuit of a grade. I consider this an important life skill, by the way, so I don't necessarily mention it as a means of complaining about the teacher. The teacher was fine other than the clear Libertarian/revisionist ideologue business. This is also the same teacher that argued with my daughter when she objected to a conflation of the terms "socialism" and "communism" by the way-- so this
could have been an epic clash of ideology. I simply reminded my DD that her ultimate goal was not about being right-- but about earning an A (as long as she knew the underlying subject well, that is). The teacher was the very human person she had to be keeping
happy in order to make that happen. Mission accomplished, by the way.
She did have a bit of trouble anticipating just what such an individual would think of LBJ, by the way. That was a challenging essay for her to write. She learned a lot.
