Those Who Forget...

I have recently become aware that a group of very intelligent high school students taking an AP U.S. History test  were not aware of the incident at Kent State University in 1970.  For those young people who are not aware, in May of 1970, students at Kent State University were protesting the bombing of Cambodia by United States military forces.  The students clashed on campus with the Ohio National Guard.  Four students were killed.  Kent State became a focal point of a nation deeply divided by the Vietnam War. [picture source]
                                                                                                             
While I don't want to generalize and say all of the students taking the AP tests were unaware (I know of a few who were aware)  It gives one pause.  Students may be aware of the origin of this country-- they can tell you all about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, etc.  Students taking AP tests HOPEFULLY know a bit more than that.  However, I am seeing my own educational history repeat itself.

As a student in the 1970s and 80s, history classes seemed to end at WWII.  I never heard about the Korean conflict, and Vietnam was NEVER mentioned, it was all too fresh.  As a result, anything I know about history after 1945  I have learned on my own.

I thought that by 2011, things may have changed.  Thankfully, I know of some teachers who are, as of today, informing their students of the events that led to the terror attacks of Sept. 11th, 2001, and the rise and fall of Osama Bin Laden.  Kudos to those teachers.  Is it still fresh?  Yes.  Do we need to be aware?  YES 

I know these events aren't in text books, but in this day and age, there is no excuse for not having enough access to information.  It seems as if the more students have open to them, the more single focused they become as far as their curiosity and learning are concerned.

I can't blame the students entirely..that would be very unfair.  Take a look at the federal budget for education, and the goals of the administration.  It all looks good on paper, but when the rubber meets the road, how are our students competing globally? It is going to take leadership to bring us up from the miserable drop to NINTH PLACE our college students have dropped [source]

Good luck to all students taking exams during the next few weeks.  Remember, you are part of this world, learn about it, experience it, become an active participant!

Poet and philosopher George Santayana once said "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."