Are students learning less U.S. history?

Comments Comment on this article4

By Susan Simpson
Published: July 4, 2008

Ask college students about celebrating the Fourth of July and many wouldn't hesitate to expound upon lake trips, fireworks shows and backyard barbecues.
Advertisement

But ask them about Thomas Paine's argument for colonial independence and you might get a few blank looks.

It turns out most of us don't remember a lot of our American history, or at least such details as:

•The person whose political thought is most obvious in the Declaration of Independence: John Locke.

•Inalienable rights: Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

•The document supporting ratification of the U.S. Constitution: The Federalist Papers.

Recently, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute asked 14,000 college seniors and freshmen across the nation to take a 60-question, multiple choice quiz about the nation's history and institutions. The average score (on a scale of 1 to 100) was 62. That grade is the equivalent of a D minus.

That is unacceptable, said Richard Brake, with the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

"The Declaration of Independence is considered to be the founding document of the United States of America and it should be a focal point of all teachings about the nation's history and institutions,” he said. "Our nation's colleges and academic stakeholders need to be held accountable for this void in learning.”

Social studies course may be failing students
The declaration embodies all that is great about America, said Aaron Bachhofer, an American history professor at both Rose State College and Oklahoma City Community College.

"It really is our conscience,” he said. "It's this glowing document in the background of the American mind.”

Bachhofer said many K-12 districts don't do an adequate job teaching social studies, emphasizing the big picture over details likes dates.

While no Oklahoma students participated in the study, the quiz is available online. Try it out at www.americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

Toolbar sponsored by: David Stanley Ford
Bookmark and Share



Related Topics: World History, History, Culture and Lifestyle, Colleges and Universities, Education, Higher Education, Culture and Lifestyle, History, World History


Comments

Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).

   
Its a multi-faceted problem. School budgets are tight and hiring teachers with expertise in history is not on the agenda. Its all about math and science right now. It is really up to the family and kids as to how they learn and interpret history. A family that takes a trip to the new Oklahoma History Center can pick up a lot of knowledge just through exhibits. But a visit to D.C. will really shape a good idea about our origin. The best educated kids in the area of history bar none are home schooled. A publicly educated student can excel but it takes initiative. It would really help high school students if the state required a good refresher course in U.S. history prior to them going to college. The college courses can be rather though if the student goes in solely with an elementary experience. I bet most students going into a college level history course can only name 2 of the 4 heads on Mount Rushmore. By no means would I imply its a total wash as my nephew recently hit me with a question to see if I understood the term manifest destiny.
Sparky (Mark), Oklahoma City - Jul 4, 2008 12:50 PM
• Report: Offensive language
It is a sad statement for our country when the youth do not know or understand the unique documents the beliefs these countries were founded on or the struggle behind the creation of these documents. People believed in these ideas so strongly that they were willing to die for them. I do not believe there are many in this country today who would be willing to die to keep the rights given to us by those brave men and women who founded this nation. It’s interesting that many of those who would be willing to fight and die for these rights are people who have legally immigrated to this country from other countries where tyrannical governments still exist. The natural born citizen of the United States need to learn from these immigrants and realize the types of oppression our forefathers faced and many that are worse still flourish in numerous countries around this world today..God Bless America and those who were willing to die to give us the inalienable rights we have today. Let their sacrifice not be in vain.
Randy, Norman - Jul 4, 2008 10:16 AM
• Report: Offensive language
Hunter, I'm glad opportunities existed for you to learn and care about American History. I'm afraid, while they are patriotic, too few Americans know what exactly they are patriotic about or, at least, should be. Perhaps that is why, in the past eight years, there have been so many subversions of, and attacks on, the Bill of Rights. Unfortunately, those attacks have gone unnoticed by too many citizens who do not recognize them as erosions of an enormously valuable American heritage.
Jan, Oklahoma City - Jul 4, 2008 10:16 AM
• Report: Offensive language
The Oklahoman ran a similar article a couple years ago, where I was quoted saying that history and government classes are nothing more than another class of memorization. (article: http://newsok.com/article/keyword/2996678/?pg=2)

That was when I was on the Youth Council of Oklahoma City back in high school, and now that I'm in college it's not entirely different. I have been so lucky that I have had knowledgeable teachers who know how to sell history to students of today. I blame a bad score on teachers who are using antiquated methods of teaching, rather than a hands on approach. My teachers have always said, "Either learn history and remember it always, or America will be forced to relive it's mistakes."

Part of the reason students seem so apathetic about this is because they don't see any place for them in making a difference, whether it be in government or history.

However, there ARE organizations out there that NEED to be publicized.
A few of them are:
-The Youth Council of Oklahoma City
(site: http://www.okc.gov/council/youth_council/2006-2007/index.html)

-The Oklahoma Heritage Association Teen Board of Directors
(site: http://www.oklahomaheritage.com/TeenBoard/tabid/100/Default.aspx)

-The Youth Leadership Exchange
(site: http://www.lokc.org)

-Youth Services for Oklahoma County Teen Board of Directors
(site: http://www.ysoc.org)

-Oklahoma Youth in Government
(site: http://www.okymcayag.net/)

-Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature
(site: http://www.okoil.org/)

There are SO many other programs, those are just some of the things that I know of and have been involved in. It needs to be publisized more, and I would love to see a story written about what there IS being done to get students not only involved in history, but in government and the community at large.
Hunter, Oklahoma City - Jul 4, 2008 7:54 AM
• Report: Offensive language