Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Pat Garrett, and Doc Holiday: Perplexing Absence from School Curriculums
Almost every morning, my daughter's world transforms as she steps between the world of the virtual and her reality. Recently, we had a conversation about historical figures such as Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Pat Garrett, and Doc Holiday. To her surprise, she had never heard of any of these individuals. Surely, given her high school education, she should have known about these characters, right?
To be clear, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Pat Garrett, and Doc Holiday are much more prominent in public consciousness as figures from Western lore rather than actual historical curricula. I too was in school, and I remember classroom teachings focusing on figures far more significant with regards to shaping their respective eras.
Public Consciousness vs. School Curriculum
It's a common misconception that all public figures were important enough to be included in school curriculums. For the most part, Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Pat Garrett, and Doc Holiday were not considered essential historical figures by the education systems of their times. The reason these individuals are still familiar to modern audiences is due to the impact of media, whether through television, film, novels, and other cultural products, rather than formal education. It's important to note that not everything we learn in school is mandatory, especially when it comes to figures from the Western era. They were more symbols of cultural legends, myths, and entertainment than historical facts.
The Role of Entertainment in Shaping Public Perception
“Wild West Shows,” pulp novels, and later films and television series proliferated their tales. The stories of these individuals, whether true, exaggerated, or entirely fictional, were crafted to captivate and engage audiences. Hollywood's portrayal of these characters has indeed made them more prominent, but it often adds a frosty layer of exaggeration, boosting their importance in the public's eyes. These fictional narratives, while fascinating, should be seen as a part of our cultural history rather than accurate historical records.
The Relevance of Understanding the Old West
While understanding the Old West can provide insight into the history of the United States, specifically in terms of the westward expansion and the development of the American frontier, the specific lives of these characters hold less historical value. Thus, their absence from school curriculums is understandable. Conversations with educators and historians reveal that time is limited in a school setting, and there are many other significant events and figures that require focus. By the time students reach high school, they are expected to have acquired some knowledge of these figures through media and independent reading rather than formal instruction.
Other noteworthy historical figures
Instead of Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Pat Garrett, and Doc Holiday, students should be taught about figures like Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse. These individuals, like Sioux leaders, played crucial roles in American history and the resistance against colonization. Wyatt Earp, often portrayed as a distinguished lawman, is a more interesting and historically significant figure when compared to those mentioned earlier. Delving into the lives of Robert E. Lee, Andrew Johnson, or Ulysses S. Grant could also provide valuable historical insights, offering a broader perspective on the issues of that era.
As the saying goes, 'History is written by the victors.' Thus, the absence of such figures in school curriculums can be attributed to several factors, including time constraints and the prioritization of more significant, impactful historical events and figures. History is a vast and complex field, and while some figures may have gained cultural prominence through entertainment, teaching them as part of a comprehensive history curriculum is essential for a well-rounded understanding of the past.
While the absence of these figures in school curriculums might appear puzzling, it is part of a broader educational strategy focused on prioritizing significant historical events and figures. It's important for students to learn about these individuals outside of the classroom, through media and independent reading, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of American history.