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
Professors at Ole Miss are sounding the alarm over teachers' and students' "shocking ignorance" of America's founding documents.

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.

[Fishrrman]

This is the culmination of decades of concerted design and effort:

[verga]

Every Monday I do trivia questions with my students. Living in VA the first question is always about the Commonwealth. I post the question ahead of time so they can look it up if they don't already know it. It is sad and pathetic the things they don't know about where they live. I am talking things like Official Motto, bird, insect, Political representatives..... etc. Basic simplye stuff.

[rangerrebew]

Every Monday I do trivia questions with my students. Living in VA the first question is always about the Commonwealth. I post the question ahead of time so they can look it up if they don't already know it. It is sad and pathetic the things they don't know about where they live. I am talking things like Official Motto, bird, insect, Political representatives..... etc. Basic simplye stuff.

Just imagine what illegal alien kids don't know yet democrats think they should be voters.

[PeteS in CA]

... Official Motto, bird, insect, Political representatives.....

For California:

Eureka! (I found it!)

California quail

State tree is the redwood

Pelosiroo and Schifftyroo are co-insects

I haven't been represented in California's legislature or Congress for decades, but that isn't what you mean.

Back when mammoths still roamed the Earth, our school cafeteria was serving the last of the frozen dinoburgers, and I was in 8th Grade, we had to study the US Constitution in our American History class and had to pass a test on it to graduate. Apparently CA still requires that, but I doubt the test is very rigorous.

[Hoodat]

Every Monday I do trivia questions with my students. Living in VA the first question is always about the Commonwealth. I post the question ahead of time so they can look it up if they don't already know it. It is sad and pathetic the things they don't know about where they live. I am talking things like Official Motto, bird, insect, Political representatives..... etc. Basic simplye stuff.

Things must have changed since I was a kid, @verga .   As you know, I went to school in the same county.  Virginia history was stressed again and again and again through all grade levels.  It was even required in 11th grade for graduation (along with Virginia government in grade 12).  Looks like that has fallen by the wayside in the Old Dominion.

[berdie]

Same here. There was a required class on Tx history. We also took civics and American history. I loved all three. Since I love history I took any extra classes that were offered. But, sadly, they were for the most part throw away classes offered for the credits to get you to graduation taught by disinterested sport coaches.

[PeteS in CA]

Here's the Social Studies regime I experience in the 60s and early 70s:

3rd Grade: Community types
4th Grade: California History
5th Grade: American History
6th Grade: Teacher's choice, we did Central & South America Geography and History
7th Grade: World History
8th Grade: American History and Constitution
9th Grade: World Geography
10th Grade: World History
11th Grade: US History
12th Grade: Economics (semester) US Government (semester)