Schools Didn’t Forget America 250. They Just Decided to Ignore It
My son and I spent the summer immersed in American history. For the Fourth of July, we drove down to Colonial Williamsburg to hear the Declaration of Independence read aloud from the balcony of the old Capitol. We visited Philadelphia and stopped into Independence Hall and saw the Liberty Bell. We read history books together, and we even made a huge Martha Washington cake.
TL;DR
- Schools seem to have moved on from focusing on America's 250th anniversary in the fall semester.
- Welcome-back letters from school officials mentioned budget, cellphone policies, and restrooms, but not the anniversary or civic education.
- Despite available resources and initiatives, schools have largely omitted the anniversary from their communications.
- The author suggests schools are hesitant to discuss the anniversary due to potential disagreements over interpreting the nation's past, both admirable and shameful.
- Ignoring the anniversary is a missed opportunity to teach students about American history and civics, which are essential for understanding the present.
- A Cato Institute survey found that 61% of Gen Z did not know what the country's 250th anniversary commemorated.
- Effective civics education requires regular curricular integration, not just occasional events.
- Constitution Day is presented as an opportunity to actively teach about the Constitution and American ideals.
- The author urges schools to thoughtfully incorporate American history and ideals, including both positive and negative aspects, into their curricula.