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In fact, study after study has shown that many of the true meanings of America's grand celebrations of patriotism -- such as Memorial Day or the Fourth of
July -- are lost on the majority of our young people. What a shame. In 1994, the National Assessment of Educational Progress
assessed fourth, eighth, and twelfth-grade students' knowledge of U.S. history. The results of this study are deeply disturbing. The study divided students into three groups -- advanced, proficient, and basic -- based on their ability to recall, understand, analyze, and interpret U.S. history. Only 17 percent of fourth graders, 14 percent of eighth graders, and 11 percent of twelfth graders were judged to be "proficient." Over one-third of fourth and eighth graders failed to reach the "basic" level and more than half of the twelfth graders surveyed could not even achieve the "basic" category in the history of their own nation. This deplorable record indicates that too many American children lack even the most rudimentary grounding in U.S. history.
Even more disturbing were the results of a study released more recently by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni
that tested the knowledge of college seniors who were on the verge of graduation. The organization gave students from 55 of our nation's finest colleges and universities a typical high school-level American history exam. Nearly 80 percent of these college seniors earned no better than a "D."
An American student, regardless of race, religion, or gender, must know the history of the land to which they pledge allegiance. They should be taught about the Founding Fathers of this Nation, the
battles that they fought, the ideals that they championed, and the enduring effects of their accomplishments. They should be taught about our nation's failures, our mistakes, and the inequities of our past.
Without this knowledge, they cannot appreciate the hard won freedoms that are our birthright. |
