Presidents Day has passed again with not much more recognition than special sales at the malls of America. What an extra 20 percent off the latest fashions has to do with how important our history is to our present condition and how critical the form and structure of our government is to the well-being of all of us, Ill never know.
But it illustrates a paradigm in this country that is disturbing -- knowledge of American history is quickly becoming history.
Whenever the Legislature is in session, or when we are in the middle of highly contentious election periods, we always seem to lose sight of the miracle of the American Experiment. Instead, we focus on the trivial and the contentious -- spending very little time on what I would call the civics end of how all this functions and why it actually functions quite well. Unfortunately, Americas high school students are losing sight of it more often than not.
National tests have repeatedly shown our students to be seriously lacking in knowledge about both the founding of America and the history of events from then to now. Achievement by U.S. high school seniors in civics was lower in 2010 than in 2006, and a lower percentage of students were at or above proficient compared to 2006, according to the Civics 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress, better known as The Nations Report Card. In fact, the study showed American students are less adept in their nations history than in any other subject.
The Father of our Constitution, James Madison, often wrote about the perils of factions as he feared the potential disastrous consequences of too much democracy. He also feared greatly the absence of education and knowledge in the fabric of American life. Thus, he and others set about creating a uniquely fashioned republic designed to withstand the tests of time and it has been remarkably successful.
Up until the time our country was created there had never been a successful republic in the history of mankind, although there had been many attempts. Madisons keen insight into why these previous experiments had failed and his eternal suspicion of the accumulation of too much power in either too few hands, or in too many hands through mob action, were the prime ingredients in crafting the checks and balance system and separation of powers we benefit from today.
We must ensure the complex and seminal concepts of the founding are infused in the daily classrooms across America. How else can we be certain that the necessary knowledge behind the documents we all hold dear is fully understood? How else can we foster generations of Americans who share the common bond required to preserve freedom, liberty and value to uphold all that makes this country great?
John Adams wrote, Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. To remain free, our citizens must be fully aware of the responsibilities of citizenship and the duty to preserve liberty, the protection of the natural rights bestowed on us by our Creator and the preservation of rule of law.
When we speak of education today, we focus much on STEM and the need for our students to learn math, science, engineering and technology --all important to economic growth and critical to the U.S. staying competitive in a global economy. But, how often do you hear of anyone calling for expanded discussion in our classrooms about the essential elements of this grand American experiment or how important knowledge of the core values that formed America are to our countrys continued existence?
How can we reconcile the lack of awareness our students display in their knowledge of American history and the need for all citizens to grasp the required linkage between the founding and modernity? Surely education and knowledge of our past should be an important part of what every student learns in our schools. Madison wrote, A well instructed people alone can be permanently a free people. He added, Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge give.
Madison was very wise in many ways. He warned about the risks to a republic and focused intensely on the value of knowledge in preserving freedom. Learned institutions ought to be favorite objects with every free people. They throw that light over the public mind which is the best security against crafty and dangerous encroachments on the public liberty.
Knowledge truly is power. The education of our young should be a primary focus of our state governments. Their instruction should be designed with our countrys future in mind, not just the first employment opportunity of graduates.
Law, liberty and the principles of the founding of America must become fully known and owned by the students of America in order to achieve what Noah Webster described as an education oriented to a life of citizenship and to inspire them with just and liberal ideas of government and with an inviolable attachment to their own country.
Ed Moore, Ph.D., is president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
