Lies we tell kids is an absolutely fascinating essay by Paul Graham.
I doubt you could teach kids recent history without teaching them lies, because practically everyone who has anything to say about it has some kind of spin to put on it. Much recent history consists of spin. It would probably be better just to teach them metafacts like that.
Probably the biggest lie told in schools, though, is that the way to succeed is through following “the rules.” In fact most such rules are just hacks to manage large groups efficiently.
There are numerous statements in the essay worth pondering for an hour or more. Why do we tell kids these lies? Ultimately we’re teaching them something, but is it something good? My general feeling is no. I despise that I feel compelled to lie from time to time for my own survival and prosperity. I would much prefer to live in a society where truth held higher value and objectivity was more in vogue.
Perhaps I’ll live long enough to see a society that values truth more than this one. I hope so. In the mean time, I must be selective about the truth in order to avoid discrimination, censure and possibly even imprisonment. It saddens me that making people feel comfortable and secure is more important than actively searching for the truth. Sure, death is scary. Not thinking about it or preparing for it scares me worse. Go read the essay.