Death of American history? Professors warn students, even teachers show ‘shocking ignorance’ of foun

[rangerrebew]

Death of American history? Professors warn students, even teachers show ‘shocking ignorance’ of founding docs

Ole Miss Declaration of Independence Center works to address widespread gaps in American civic education
By Elizabeth Heckman , Nikolas Lanum Fox News
Published November 15, 2025 6:00am EST
 

Scholars warn students, teachers lack grasp of America’s founding texts
At the University of Mississippi, the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom seeks to give students a deeper, more accurate understanding of America’s founding principles and the freedoms on which the nation was built. Director Dr. Steven Skultety and Associate Director Dr. Rankin Sherling spoke with Fox News Digital about the Center’s mission and their concern that too few Americans receive a solid education on the nation’s founding — a gap they believe contributes to many of the challenges facing the country today.

Sherling said "it's pure and utter ignorance" when it comes to the knowledge of founding documents among Americans. But he added it's not their fault.

"They've been taught in a certain way. And then this is compounded over time so that the teachers themselves are ignorant of what's actually in the founding documents… many of them haven't read the founding documents without some sort of coaching as to what they mean," he said.

Associate Director Declaration of Independence Center
Dr. Rankin Sherling is the Associate Director of the Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). (Nikolas Lanum/Fox News Digital)


According to a comprehensive study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in 2024, more than 70% of Americans failed a basic civic-literacy quiz.

 https://www.foxnews.com/media/death-american-history-professors-warn-students-even-teachers-show-shocking-ignorance-founding-docs

[rangerrebew]

I have attended many, many such classes at Hillsdale College (Mich.) to learn about the founding.  I once took my wife there to show her the campus.  How much respect do the students have for America?  While walking around the campus, the National Anthem came on loudspeakers outside, and the students all stopped what they were doing, placed their hands over their hearts, and faced the nearest flag.  It was s-o-o-o-o-o refreshing to see the knowledge and respect on display.

[Free Vulcan]

They often have a shocking ignorance of what happened 10 years ago when they were already alive, and that's not by accident.