High school history books are written chronologically and are about seven years old, with the start of the war getting a mention. But it’s a topic that isn’t a state standard and generally comes up at the end of the year.
Ben Todd typically teaches his students about military operations in Iraq during a week in the spring. The lessons can be both “emotional and engaging” for kids, said Todd, a history teacher at Rio Mesa High School in the Oxnard Union High School District.
But they also are important, he said. And he’s usually impressed by his students’ responses.
“It’s a great way to connect students to history and current events, as well as critical thinking about policy, our place in the world as a nation, and how global events can affect us on a local and personal level,” Todd said.
