If Gen Z is sour on America, they're being miseducated
We shouldn’t be surprised that many U.S. students find the American story distant, hollow, or irrelevant, since their first serious encounter with America may have been a list of its failures.
TL;DR
- Gen Z students often encounter the American story primarily through a list of national failures, leading to feelings of irrelevance.
- Key historical failures like slavery, Native American removal, Jim Crow, and Japanese internment are uninspiring without the context of heroes and moral striving.
- Polls show declining hope for America's future, trust in government, confidence in elections, and pride among young adults.
- A significant portion of young people express unhappiness with the direction of U.S. politics and society, and lack trust in institutions.
- The author suggests educators are failing to teach the full American story, including its heroes and fundamental principles of freedom and opportunity.
- Patriotism is presented not just as a sentiment but a necessity, which needs to be inspired in each generation.