Posted on 05/10/2002 6:15:11 PM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
WASHINGTON (AP) -- High school seniors have a poor grasp of U.S. history, with less than half able to identify or explain the Monroe Doctrine, Nat Turner's rebellion or the Bay of Pigs invasion.
The poor showing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, prompted educators to question whether schools are adequately teaching U.S. history -- and whether teachers are adequately trained.
Only 43 percent of 12th-graders had at least a basic understanding of U.S. history, unchanged from 1994, the last time the test was given.
"Clearly our high schools are failing to teach U.S. history well and to awaken mature students to the value of history as a study that matters deeply in their own lives and to the life of our nation," said education historian Diane Ravitch.
Some scores slightly up
Among fourth-graders, 67 percent had at least a basic understanding -- 3 percent more than in 1994.
Eighth-graders also did slightly better, with 64 percent showing at least a basic grasp of history -- also 3 percent more than in 1994.
All students' scores were lower than on recent NAEP math and reading tests.
NAEP, known informally as "The Nation's Report Card," is given in different subjects periodically in three grades. The current form of the U.S. history test was first given in 1994. The scores were released this week by the Education Department.
The 2001 test was given to about 29,600 students, 87 percent of whom attend public schools. The randomly selected test-takers answered multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions, with each student answering questions on only part of the entire test.
According to the National Assessment Governing Board, the independent group that develops tests in history, reading, math and other subjects, "basic" shows partial mastery for grade-level work. A higher level, "proficient," shows solid academic performance and the ability to apply knowledge to actual situations.
Only 17 percent of fourth-graders were at or above proficient; 18 percent of eighth-graders were at or above proficient; and 11 percent of 12th-graders were at or above proficient.
The average fourth-grader scored in the "basic" range, as did the average eighth-grader. The average 12th-grader was "below basic."
'Troublesome' results
Ravitch, who is also a member of the governing board, called the scores "a mixed and troublesome picture" and said the seniors' scores were "truly abysmal."
"Since the seniors are very close to voting age or already have reached it, one can only feel alarm that they know so little about their nation's history and express so little capacity to reflect on its meaning," she said.
Bruce Craig of the National Coordinating Committee for the Promotion of History noted that the Bush administration wants to cut in half a $100 million program to help schools teach American history, but acknowledged that "We ought to be placing our emphasis on improving teacher quality."
Kay Knowles, a U.S. history teacher at James River High School in Midlothian, Virginia, and board member of the National Council on the Social Studies, said many schools, especially in inner-city and rural areas, have trouble attracting certified history teachers. She said the current group of high school students also may be more poorly prepared in history because the subject was overlooked on standardized tests when they were attending elementary and middle school.
"When they come to us, they do not have a background in social studies, and they don't take it seriously, because it's not been stressed," Knowles said. "Social studies has always been put on the back burner."
Learning the fundamentals
While Ravitch called the test questions "fundamental American history," many questions were challenging, especially those posed to older students.
Eighth-graders had to name one major consequence of the French and Indian War; 47 percent got that one right.
Twelfth-graders had to identify two groups that wanted the United States to stay on the gold standard in the late 1900s. Was it (a) Western farmers and ranchers, (b) Eastern bankers and the Republican party, (c) Unionized workers and nonunionized farm laborers, or (d) The Socialist party and the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies)?
Fifty-six percent correctly answered (b).
There was some good news for minority students: While their scores still lag as much as 33 points behind those of their white counterparts, the gap shrank considerably for black fourth-graders and Hispanic 12th-graders.
NAEP scores in geography are scheduled to be released this summer.
To think of how little they know, the very little they DO retain is likely to be INUNDATED with Socialist ideas.
There is a real need for Educators with Conservative credentials.
Gee, the late 1900's already seems like a long time ago.
And these are the supposed experts giving the test! No wonder the kids had a problem answering the question.
In the end that publisher could no longer sell History books in TX. What kind of proofreaders would allow dates like 1492 for Chrstopher Columbus to be wrong! Or outright lies! I say one of the problems would lie with the publishers which I would guess would tend to be liberal with some of the nonsense I read in that history book.
Combine liberal textbooks with liberal history teachers and you will find many school districts turning out students that really don't know history. Fortunately, my children have had Republican history teachers here in Oklahoma that did a lot of their own research to teach and ignored the history books because they were filled with errors!
This study is merely a sting by the (feebly) aroused hornet's nest of ageing and dying tweed socialists, who realise as the sun sets that their legacy is ignorance, and their life-work was folly.
History repeats itself.
Have you seen the Liberal lies that are taught as "history" these days? We'd really prefer them ignorant!
I also think the test should be given to homeschooled kids. Another prediction - the homeschooled elementary kids would probably score better than the HS kids on the HS test.
I asked how that happened and my son said that the teacher realized they were running out of time.
TC
How many Americans remember the contributions of the French during the birth of this nation ? None
How many French remember the contributions of the Americans during WWs I & II? None
Between these two countries, which country played the greater role in the survival of the other?
Ooh la la! You hit it right on the head...er, tete! That socialist quagmire hasn't a clue to the numbers of lives lost to keep them from being Germany's playground.
The retired teacher taught his students that America was uniquely guilty in Slavery! He didn't even know that Slavery was the "norm" for thousands of years in all civilizations,and that the United States didn't start Slavery,but that it ended Slavery.The teacher didn't even know that Sadui Arabia did not offically end Slavery until 1962,or that Slavery still exists in Moratania,Africa. The teacher believed that the U.S.was the last Country to end Slavery!
When vulnerable students are taught propaganda,what else can you expect?
It's very sad,but teachers like Bob ae very prevalent in California.
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