Don't Know Much About History ... Sam Cook

History still a mystery for 12th-graders

“ .... the survey found that only 22 percent of 12th-graders could identify China’s role during the Korean War. Most didn’t know that the country backed North Korea during its fight with South Korea and the U.S. and its allies. Other questions focused on the Civil War, the civil rights movement, colonization, the world wars and other events [Ahem]. Some experts believe more uniform curricula across the country could help, but unlike math and reading, attitudes among educators differ across the nation on what should be emphasized in history classrooms. [Full] ”

MoSup says she  caught this from a telly playing at work (in a patient's room).  She thinks it was tuned to the History Channel. "Andrew Johnson is the only president to be impeached." My brother-in-law once rebuked me for saying that Clinton had been impeached.  "No he wasn't; the vote failed."  One of those things that's been emphasized in history classrooms. We, who spend much time listening to various History/ Learning channels,  are used to misstatements; even dueling versions of history and science.   I've watched two hours on the Little Ice Age, and the convergence of natural phenomena that caused it,  followed in the next hour by  dire predictions from the man-caused climate change lobby. All this on the Science Channel. It almost seems like "divide and conquer" rules are in effect. In a lifetime things that made us a great and successful nation—   a common language, institutions, religion, and historical experience have disappeared.  And here we are.