America is a large and diverse country, founded upon common principles and values that have drawn millions of people here from across the globe for over 200 years. It’s critical that each generation learns about the ideas and traditions upon which our country has been built, and understands the sacrifices of those who came before us.
This means that each new generation must learn American history to understand what it means to be American.
Today, unfortunately, we are doing a poor job of passing on our history to the next generation. Many students are failing to learn the basics about American history, and are consequently failing to appreciate our rich heritage.
The Department of Education’s National Assessment of Educational Progress shows the enormity of this challenge. In a recent NAEP survey, just 20 percent of fourth-graders, 17 percent of eighth-graders and 12 percent of twelfth-graders were at grade-level proficiency in American history.
In the same survey, only one in three fourth graders could identify the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. Less than half understood why George Washington was an important leader in American history. And most fourth graders didn't know why the Pilgrims left England.
These results suggest that most students are failing to learn the fundamentals. Being born in a time of relative prosperity, safety, and freedom, we must look back to those who fought for and won our freedom. We can start by teaching our children about our founding fathers, including, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as well as our founding documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
We must find creative ways to engage our children in learning American history. As the author of three children’s history books, I’ve visited classrooms and libraries across the country to share the adventures of Ellis the Elephant, my time-travelling pachyderm, with four to eight year olds. Most young people I meet are energetic and eager to learn.
Via: Newsmax
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