All students bring previous knowledge into the classroom.
Much of their historical experience comes from the movies and television. Very often dramatic license is taken by film makers and the story is sometimes altered. Disney's Pocahontas is a case in point. Our job as history teachers is to open student minds to a broader perspective, to have them question what is presented, and to search out the complete picture based on primary sources and historical evidence. Many students now in middle and high school have seen the movie Pocahontas and it provides an excellent opportunity to introduce students to such study.