Cantu, Chapter 13

The final chapter of Cantu discusses the use of primary sources, specifically the Library of Congress. Primary sources are going to be a great way to help students gain a well-rounded understanding of history, which is important because, as argued by Loewen- textbooks just don't do the past justice. Primary sources are important because they make history real. If students can read a diary page written by a real person, if they can see emotional pictures, or analyze different art forms, it becomes more interesting for students to look into the past.

I plan on integrating primary sources along with every lesson that I teach. They embellish the overview of data by providing proof to back up my claims. This makes me more legitimate as a teacher because if I am able to support what I am saying, students have reason to believe in my teaching and trust me as a mentor. In addition, they will become better researchers themselves, as well as being great critical thinkers. Primary sources are awesome because they are unapologetic- these sources aren't necessarily free of bias. This, in my opinion, makes them even more legitimate because it adds a human quality that students can relate to.

Outside of The Library of Congress, there are several great sites for primary sources that can be utilized. For example, this PBS site is full of great sources to help students understand the Vietnam War. Of course, the BIG QUESTION regarding primary documents is- how can we ensure we give both sides of the story since it is so much easier to find pro-American/European sources? How difficult is it going to be to give a full picture of the past with such one-sided data, even outside of textbooks?