That's unfortunate, because students are taught they are "improved" versions of people who lived in the past. Of course many already believe their parents are dumb as a box of rocks, so this fits neatly into their limited world view.

In this scenario, the only possible use for history would be passing judgement on dead white men who made all the rules we live under.

My post on this subject a few weeks ago attracted a number of scornful replies, so I hesitate to mention it again. Here goes anyway --

Mat Weiner, the director of AMC's "Mad Men" series, says his program isn't about people who lived in the early 1960s. Its about people who *happen* to have lived at that time. We're really no different from people of that era or any other in the past, so we're in no position to pass judgement.