An Analysis of Jane Tompkins' "Indians"
Whenever you are in any educational situation, you are subject to perspectives and bias
of the instructors. In an essay entitled "Indians," by Jane Tompkins, it discusses how
different biases may reflect upon one's concept of history. It is imperative to realize
that when learning, which generally involves someone's concept of history, we are
consequently subject to that person's perspectives that may be a result of their
upbringing.
In the essay Tompkins regarding history, Tompkins says "it concerns the difference that
point of view makes when people are giving accounts of events, whether at first or second
hand. The problem is that if all accounts of events are determined through and through
by the observer's frame of reference, then one will never know, if any given case, what
really happened."(Pg. 619)
The purpose of this essay is that history is a result of point of view. It is both
subject to the biases of the one who presents it as it is subject to the biases of the
one who observes it. You can then draw a similar parallel to education. The point is
that you learn something you are subject to the educator's opinion as well as your
prejudices regarding the topic. This leads me to one of Tompkins main points of
discussion: "What really is the truth?"
As I have mentioned throughout the essay, everything is subject to the opinions and
prejudices of the observer. When trying to decipher a fact, or "the truth" you must
realize that people may see a particular instance in many different points of view.
Tompkins discusses this problem and its relation to the European-Indian conflict of the
17th and 18th centuries. In doing so she quotes a particular source of puritan
background who considers the Indians to be brutal savages who raped and tortured their
captives. She then quotes someone who is favorable towards the Indians, said that
Indians were a highly cultured group of people who helped the European settlers adapt to
their new environment.
My point for addressing these two points of view is to illustrate how these two people
can have such diverse opinions regarding the same topic. Both of these people are saying
the truth, yet when trying to understand the broad point of view you can't accept either
of them as the whole truth. Because of these two people's bias' they may have a tendency
to neglect certain facts that may be detrimental to the image they where trying to
portray. In order to obtain the most accurate "truth" you must take all the different
points of view, and while putting aside your personal bias' and the bias' of those who
are presenting the story, you must then decide for yourself what is believable and what
may be lacking important information.
When trying to decipher the truth, there is a close parallel to the "banking" theory.
The banking theory is one in which you are subject to the prejudices and beliefs of the
educator, and you are just filled with their beliefs. When trying to learn history you
are consequently subject to the same prejudices. All you really have to learn from are
the sources that you are researching. You are then the same as the student in the
banking theory.
When reading this essay it is also important to note that it is not intendedto
discourage you from learning from history. If you don't know what history happened in
the past you are most likely subject to it repeating itself. It is imperative that you
learn from the what happened in the past. Also, you must learn from the people's
perspectives. This will allow you to see the situation from a variety of different
angles. Once you are able see these different points of view, you will consequently be
able to learn more about the people who have these views. Consequently, you will be able
to filter out such prejudices in the future.
In order to learn anything about the world around you, it is imperative that you take in
mind that different people will have these bias' and prejudices. Therefore when learning
from them you may only see one point of view. To learn the whole truth, you must take in
as many points of view as possible. This will allow you to possibly filter out the
conflicting points of view, and try to realize the common story in all of them. By
doing this you will be able to see the closest thing to the truth as possible.
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