A History Not Worth Repeating
On this day, June 14, we recognize as Flag Day, when our country’s flag was first carried by the Continental Army in 1776. To commemorate this, some people proudly wave replicas in varying forms of the American flag perhaps not knowing the full history. But according to an article in today’s Washington Post, adults aren’t the only ones short on U.S. history knowledge. According to the Nation’s Report Card, only 13 percent of high school seniors who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress exhibited strong academic performance in American history. In addition, only 22 percent of fourth-graders and 18 percent of eighth-graders scored proficient or higher. Several factors may contribute to low test scores but the greater concern lies with the disconnect within these students’ classrooms, communities and homes. This is a tell-tale indication of gaps in our communities (whether intended or unintended) where each one isn’t teaching one. Understanding why persons in our history made good or bad decisions is imperative for helping us make more informed, critical choices when facing similar situations. And as the saying goes, “if you don’t know your past (history), you are doomed to repeat it. “
Read more from the Washington Post: “Less Than a Quarter of Students Proficient in U.S. History, Educators Concerned”
No comments:
Post a Comment