What is a problem in learning history?

There might be a challenge in the teaching of history and how individuals approach it.  I would terms this the difference between believing in a "Consensus" view of history set against a "Conflict" based methodology.  Those who believe in teaching the former would tend to side with the notion of American exceptionalism and this would be presented in their pedagogy and philosophy towards the teaching of the discipline. In this belief system, the telling of American History is one steeped in the idea that the American model of historical advancement and political/ economic structure is something that should be modeled by other nations.  At some levels, this vision of American History preaches to the idea that history is taught as a retelling of the successes and the glorification of these ideals:  The American form of Government is the longest based Constitutional political structure, its method of capitalist based economics "won" and the idea of the acknowledgment of rights, initiated with the American Revolution and continuning through its history, is something to be taught and stressed to students.

This vision of "exceptionalism" is set in stark contrast to the "conflict" point of view.  In this setting, the telling of American History is one based on repeated conflicts and this notion of "fight" and "battle" is continued in the modern retelling of American History.  Part of this conflict is the acknowledgment of power as being a major element of American History.  If one relents in telling this narrative of ongoing conflict, then there is a likelihood to capitulate to silencing the voices of those who battle in this conflict.

At some level, the challenge in learning history might exist in trying to navigate through both polarities of expression historical truth.  There might be validity in both expressions, and students, when exposed to both, might have a difficult time in making decisions about what to accept and what to discard.  Yet, I would stress that while this is a legitimate challenge in learning history, it allows students to become critical thinkers and gives them a role in the process of deciding how to read and analyze historical narratives of experience.