New Report Says Students Don’t Know Much About U.S. History
- Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:26pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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(AP) — U.S. students don’t know much about American history, according to results of a national test released Tuesday. Just 13 percent of high school seniors who took the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress, called the Nation’s Report Card, showed solid academic performance in American history.
The two other grades didn’t perform much better, with just 22 percent of fourth-grade students and 18 percent of eighth-graders scoring proficient or better.
The test quizzed students on topics including colonization, the American Revolution and the Civil War, and the contemporary United States. For example, one question asked fourth-graders to name an important result of the U.S. building canals in the 1800s. Only 44 percent knew that it was increased trade among states.
“The history scores released today show that student performance is still too low,” Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a statement. “These results tell us that, as a country, we are failing to provide children with a high-quality, well-rounded education.”
Education experts say a heavy focus on reading and math under the federal No Child Left Behind law in the last decade has led to lagging performance in other subjects such as history and science.
“We need to make sure other subjects like history, science and the arts are not forgotten in our pursuit of the basic skills,” said Diane Ravitch, a research professor at New York University and former U.S. assistant education secretary.
Of the seven subjects on the national test, students performed the worst in U.S. history. Officials with the National Assessment Governing board, which oversees the tests, say the results aren’t comparable to the other tests because different students take each exam in different years.
The scores on the history test did not vary remarkably from years past; in 1994, for example, 19 percent of fourth-grade students scored proficient or better in U.S. history.
More than 7,000 fourth-grade students, 11,000 eighth graders and 12,000 high school seniors from a nationally representative sample took the test last year.
To be considered proficient, they had to get certain scores out of 500. For fourth-graders, the score was 243. Eighth-graders needed 294, and 12th graders had to get a 325.
Judy Brodigan, who was head of the elementary social studies curriculum for the Lewisville, Texas, school district for a decade, said history and social studies classes aren’t as much of a priority for school districts as math and reading. She noted that many states only test history and social studies starting in middle school, which means elementary school students don’t get the background they need in the subject.
“When the foundation isn’t built in elementary school, these students are coming to middle school lacking crucial skills,” Brodigan said. “What it means is that in what is becoming a more and more global society, American students are more and more at a disadvantage.”
Educators said history is critical to students learning how to become better citizens and understanding how the country’s political and cultural systems work. Students need to not only recognize leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln, but also understand why they were important to the development of the country.
“Overall the quality and success of our lives can only be enhanced by a study of our roots,” said Steven Paine, former state schools superintendent for West Virginia. “If you don’t know your past, you will not have a future.”
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Comments (79)
Fight for America
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:46pmThey know the history taught to them by liberals. Learning that freedom is not free they will have to figure out the hard way. Life isn’t fair.
Report Post »geonj
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:40pmteachers suck at teaching history because they are too concerned with teaching revisionist history.
Report Post »Mr. Oshawott
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:36pmArne Duncan: “The history scores released today show that student performance is still too low.”
“These results tell us that, as a country, we are failing to provide children with a high-quality, well-rounded education.”
And I know the main culprits that caused our so-called “education” to become so atrocious: George W. Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” Act, the U.S. Department of Education, and Arne Duncan himself. I say it’s time to say “Bye-Bye” to ALL three of them…Forever!
Report Post »rl
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:33pmJust the way the government wants it,,,,,,,,
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:26pmIn many states, social studies is NOT tested by the state in elementary school. Therefore many teachers don’t teach it to make more time to drill on math and reading. I saw this often. I DID teach it, along with a study of the Declaration and Constitution, tests of them, and readin books to the kids about the Founding Fathers and reading the Limbaugh selection on the signers of the Declaration (they were amazed at how brave these men were and what a high price they paid for their signatures in blood and wealth.).
Report Post »Seabee79
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:24pmI just finished watching the comlpete series of WW II in HD from the history channel. it was great.
Report Post »every school should make it mandatory to watch in high school. these kids would learn alot about what their aunts, uncles, and grand parents had to do so they can have an I-pod.
ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 7:00pmI agree but monitor. some misinformation about morals gets put in to soften the attack mode of the USA
Report Post »We wanted them dead. simple with no further explaination necessary. I home schooled 2. private school 4. public school 2. public school did the worst in life. the other six good.
christianUSA
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:24pmHome-schooling has many over looked advantages: drug free, gang free, high student per radio, someone who personal has a life time commitment to the child, personalized flexible study program tailored to the child, choice of social groups is larger and many, better computer availability, elimination of indoctrination waste of time, freedom to teach your families ideology / religion, focus on real life facts and needed skills, no need to wait on speed on students of different rates, can repeat lesson until its Aced, reading of real detail history like William Dawe my kids ancestor who actually rode and warn the town but most histories leave out, flexible vacation times, you KNOW where your kids are in learning and location. We home schooled kids got straight As in college.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:23pmfunny, OUR all-American patriotic American-flag-waving homeschooled kids sure know ALL about it.
Report Post »ICEDRAGONNITE
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:20pmTeach to the best and brightest. the rest will try to stay up. ergo they learn more. Now fill in the gaps by repeating. No longer to the slowest or weakest. This breeds sloth. Your choice.
Report Post »nomercy63
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:12pmThey don’t know much about anything not because of school or video games it is because the parents are dumber then their kids!!!!!!
Report Post »Ken
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:06pmI bet that if you put David Barton in front of those liberal teachers and students for just five minutes, he would would make complete and utter IDIOTS of them!!!
Report Post »DallyWama
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:02pmWhat a wonderful world.
Report Post »SandyfromChesterfield
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:59pmIsn’t this why obama wants to reform education so that no one know our history. Just like Michelle said. “we have to rewrite our history.”
Report Post »elosogrande
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:58pmArne Duncan is The Secretary of Education because he has a good outside shot, and that’s all. He was in charge of the Chicago public School system, and the Chicago schools have a deplorable record. When he was in charge, Chicago kids got a fourth-rate education, and he did nothing about it.
Once again, you find the government saying – “Don’t give the people too much education because, if you do, they won’t have to depend on you”. This has been the Democrat mantra for years, and they have done well by it for the last four or five GENERATIONS in Chicago…just not our kids.
The lack of education described in this column should be looked into, the teachers audited, and the ones responsible for the results should be fired. No job – no pension – no nothin’.
Tell the s.o.b.‘s that it’s over!
Report Post »Your Name Here
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:43pmStudents today don’t know anything of value.
Report Post »They know all about Lady Gaga, American Idol, reality shows, and every deviant form of sex but they couldn’t think their way out of a wet paper bag.
Hmmm, it’s like the teachers wanted it to be this way.
Doc_Slammin
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:40pmI would like to see the averages separated between the government run and owned schools and the private and parochial run and owned schools.
I would also be interested in seeing the price difference per student.
Report Post »Shackleford
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:39pmEvery single story like this needs to be accompanied with stats showing their political beliefs. For example, in an article like this it should be said:
“Just 13 percent of high school seniors who took the 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress showed solid academic performance in American history. In other news, 75% of high school seniors are happy with President Obama’s performance.”
Or
“Once again US high school seniors ranked dead last in their knowledge of science. In other news, 9 out of 10 high school seniors believe Global Warming is a serious threat to our planet.”
Or
“Record numbers of incoming college freshmen are finding they are unprepared for a college curriculum and must take remedial courses. Many can’t even find the USA on a map of North America. In other news, most college students believe Sarah Palin is too stupid to be president.”
I want to see things like that. Most of those stats were made up by me, but they are probably true or close to being the truth.
Report Post »Hephzibah
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:30pmThat’s what we would be seeing if we had a responsible and decent, respectable media.
Report Post »umreb78
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:38pmNot a surprise at all….History is the only subject in school that actually affords students the opportunity to learn from the past and to avoid repeating mistakes made by our ancestors. Raising a generation or two of American kids who know little or nothing about their past, their heritage, the freedoms they enjoy and the price paid for those freedoms is the ONLY WAY OBAMA AND THE LEFTISTS POSSIBLY HAVE A CHANCE TO FUNDAMENTALLY DESTROY WESTERN VALUES AND LIFE. Interestingly, the slide in the teaching of American history began in the early 1970s with the creation of the US Department of Education (what an oxymoron that is). Dismantle the US DOE and return the education process to the control of the most local level of government possible…preferably all the way down to the county level, but I’ll take it being assigned to the STATES. The fruits of what the Fed and the US DOE sowed three generations ago is now in full bloom…How else could one explain how the current WH resident actually got elected????
Report Post »BannedByHuffpo
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:37pmThis comes as no surprise. Liberal/socialist/communist “educators” of the William Ayers ilk figured out a long time ago that to manipulate and control people, keep ‘em stupid.
Report Post »miles from nowhere
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:34pmLiberal teachers in public schools are to blame for this stupidity, this is done on purpose to keep the children ignorant so they are easier to brain wash with there liberal biased veiws on life. They are doing this at tax payer expense and quite frankly should be hung in a public square for all to see so it will come to an end.
Report Post »Baberaham Lincoln
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:39pmDid you really just advocate murdering high school and elementary school teachers?
Report Post »Ken
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:03pmWhat a great idea!!!
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 6:17pmIt’s got my vote!
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:34pmThis is what the Progressives are counting on and this is why they try so hard to indoctrinate the young kids because the kids know little to nothing of American history these days. Of course we all know the old saying about ignoring history.
Report Post »N37BU6
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:31pm“Student’s”?
Report Post »Jediusetheforce
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:35pmFuture Pawns!!!
Report Post »Whitey4West
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:31pmA friend of my son (around 14y/o) was over the other day, and he informed me that the abolishment of slavery caused the great depression. I guess you’re never too old to learn new stuff!
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:41pmHave you heard this one :
Report Post »George Bush caused global warming
( 15-16 yr olds, CA)
Whitey4West
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 9:44pmyeah, i’ve learned that one from cnn, msnbc, obama, liberals, etc…
Report Post »Luckily for me though, my son (made me proud) and told him that he’s crazy and slavery was abolished over 60 years before the G.D.
oriondma05
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:30pmThe good thing is, they can tell you everything about global warming and the importance of being transgendered. Because that’s what matters!
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:44pmBeen there, done that. We fought it and won. Bank account compromised, death threats, shunned by teachers and other parents. God took care of it all and now our kids are happily in a private school. They still get our money though… end public BS schooling. Private schools cost less, work better and with competition would work!
Report Post »becauseitmatters
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 10:26pmOne of the many reasons we homeschool. The benefits are unmeasurable. I love my children, and they are thriving. The state can’t have them.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:26pmYou don’t say?!?!?
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:31pmThey do know how to play video games and spend money though…
Report Post »Jediusetheforce
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:32pmYou have to get ready for the New World Order!!!! Be Prepared.
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:34pmThis report is actual U.S. History.
Report Post »Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:34pmIts sad when a foreigner coming to America knows more about our history than the kids in our schools. Just think, we pay for this one way or another. As long as history is rewritten and avoided by teachers who don’t like teaching the real truth about it, this will be the result.
Report Post »oldasdirt
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:35pmThe kids wont learn much about unions doing damage to this nation if the Blaze keeps pulling commints about the unions like UAW doing damage to our nation.
Report Post »cheezwhiz
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:37pmI’m sure the union thugs working in the school system have nothing to do with such ignorant students
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:41pmWhat’s really sad to me is I remember why great uncle admonishing me one day when I was messing around with one of my friends, at around the ripe old age of 12. He asked scornfully, “Is that all you do is play?!?!” I actually felt bad when he asked me that, even though I was having fun on my snowmobile. Keep in mind I grew up on a dairy farm where free time as a child was to be treasured. You had school, then chores. Then in the summers you had no school, but you had to milk ‘em twice a day and then work the month of June peeling popple during the day, then July came hay-making and August you got about 2 weeks to enjoy the day before 2nd crop of hay and then screwl started again.
The old boy is surely turning over in his grave at the sight of today’s finest.
The old boy wouldn’t believe kids now.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:42pmBut they can tell you all about Che or Hope and Change. They do know you are not allowed to hit them and how to sue grown ups. They know they have the right to a secret abortion and they have the right to high speed internet. They better have a free school lunch and when/if they graduate, you better give them a student loan.
Wait, you mean none of those are rights????? that’s it, they now know how to flash mob and riot, against the evil grown ups that won’t give them what they want, NOW.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:44pmAnd are doomed to repeat the failures. This was the progressive plan in place and implemented by the union teachers to indoctrinate our children. Those who relied on only State paid teachers to teach their children will reap what they didn’t sow. You need to be supplementing what is taught/not taught in school. You are responsible for YOUR children, not the citizens of your state. There are good teachers out there, then there are the lazy teachers and the ones with a hidden agenda.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:45pmDismantle and defund the DOE and give it back to the States and see if grades don’t start going back up.
Report Post »SavingtheRepublic.com
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 4:49pm^____^____^
Report Post »Ya really is this a surprise when they would rather you learn Alinsky or Marx?! School system is a joke like most of our current infrastructure. This nation is under siege by a silent radical enemy. One who as Van Jones made clear has been at work for over a hundred years. Mark my word they are not going to just give up…. sooner or later “they’re” going fight!
Czar Casm
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:08pmAnd of course the answer to this lack of education is…….MORE MONEY! Works everytime.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:13pmNew Report Says Students Don’t Know Much About U.S. History.
That’s because all liberal teachers know is revisionist history that they make up.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:21pmNew report? Holy s?#&!
Report Post »FToth84
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:36pmWell, considering that most public school systems only teach 1yr. of US history in middle school and 1yr. in high school. This only makes sense. Add to that. The fact that there are many inner city school districts that don’t even teach Social Sciences to their students anymore. I know this to be a fact. I know an individual very close to me that taught inner city students for 3 yrs. Never was there any history of any sort. And if you dare not teach according to the lesson plan that was given to you you were forced out.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 5:46pmYeah, but they can tell you who won the MTV Movie Awards for the last 5 years as well as what happened during every episode of Jersey (Herpes) Sore. Gotta have, like, priorities, y’know?
Report Post »RN MOM
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 7:10pmMy 12 yr old son has spent the entire year getting “D’s” in SS, because he knows history a little different than his SS teacher does and continually makes the mistake of sharing his information. He’s been told to not use “outside knowledge” in the classroom. Which, BTW, aside from his love of the military history channel, he loves the Glenn Beck show. I wonder if there is a connection?
Report Post »michael48
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 9:30pmthey can quote “rules for radicals” and “Das Kapital”…but can’t find North America on a globe…union indoctrination , instead of public EDUCATION…“Hoax and Chains”
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 9:58pmWhat fine, young, entitled, spoiled brats.
THANKS!, union teachers!
I would REPLACE the DOE with a department of public records, whose sole purpose is to provide standardized tests and maintain a record of the results of those tests, by school, by teacher, by administrator, by date, by textbook, etc. This would provide school districts with the historic knowledge they need to make informed choices when selecting textbooks, hiring/firing teachers and administrators, etc.
Report Post »The dept of public records would have NO authority to tell any school what to teach or what books to use. All they do is keep records so the schools can compare apples to apples, district to district, etc.
banjarmon
Posted on June 14, 2011 at 11:13pmBooks, Paper, Pencils…NO computers, No phones, No calculators, and NO UNION TEACHERS. Teach them History, Math, and ENGLISH! Make them learn or bust their little azz!
Report Post »