Over the last several months, there has been a great push by educators and lawmakers to have better science and math programs. Some are even pushing to have better English programs in the younger grades. Yet one subject seems missing from this equation: history.
A Report was released today by a Washington-based political think tank that concluded U.S. history standards need a radical overhaul. According to the analysis conducted by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, 28 states deserve a D or F in their U.S. history standards for their primary-secondary schools. Only one state, South Carolina, got an A. Utah was one of 12 states that got a C.
"Every state requires its public-school students to study American history in some form, and every state (except Rhode Island) has mandated standards for this subject," the report states. "Yet few have the proper accountability structures in place to ensure that the standards are being taught or that students are learning their content."
Utah's history standards for its students are high, the researchers say. It aims to have "an authentic, active, integrated, meaningful and in-depth social studies curriculum," resulting in "geographic, historical, economic, civic, social and cultural literacy."
But the report concludes that Utah does not live up to these high standards.
"They display serious gaps in coverage, and much of what is covered is treated too broadly," the analysis concludes, adding that Utah has a greater emphasis than usual on patriotism in the younger grades. "Utah offers a usable overview of American history, but it needs greater consistency, depth, detail and explanation."
Yet, the report states that historical comprehension is vital for students to understand the nation and the world. Even in higher education, many feel the system is failing students in American history with just 10 of the "60 State Flagship Institutions" requiring American history for undergraduate students.
"I don't think there's any question whatsoever that the students in our institutions of higher education have less grasp, less understanding, less knowledge of American history than ever before," said Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough in the report. "I think we are raising a generation of young Americans who are, to a very large degree, historically illiterate."