The lessons of history
Those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it
Key takeaways
· Declining history education in US schools risks leaving citizens uninformed and vulnerable to repeating past mistakes
· Falling test scores in history and civics, along with reduced history curricula in US schools, highlight a troubling trend
· Historical knowledge is crucial as the US navigates generational change
· A comprehensive history curriculum in K-12 education is essential for fostering an informed citizenry capable of making sound decisions
On Thursday, America celebrated its 248th birthday, a relatively young age compared to the 985-year span of the Roman Republic and Empire. In 1776, America's Founding Fathers modeled the federal government after the Roman system. In hindsight, that design has held up quite well given the magnitude of technological change between 1776 and 2024.
The model is reliant on an informed citizenry voting for representatives to govern them. The internet and associated explosion of data has made more information available than ever before, to the point of sensory overload. I believe citizens are as eager and willing to be as informed, but the sheer magnitude of information risks leaving citizens adrift in fragmented echo chambers.
The study of history provides context and anchors us to a common reference point. But history requirements are declining in US K-12 education curriculums. In this article, I’m going to discuss the state of history education in the US, explain why studying history is important, and propose ways to increase knowledge of history.
State of history education
Scores on the 8th-grade National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) have declined below 1994 levels, with only 13% of students scoring proficient in history[i]. This trend predates the pandemic and highlights a broader decline in civic knowledge.
The NAEP data show that civics scores have also fallen. The average civics score in 2022 was 150 out of 300. This score is 28 points below the proficient level, and down from 154 in 2014[ii].
The prevalence of history classes is also declining in the K-12 curriculum. For instance, in North Carolina, recent policy changes allow for a three-year graduation track requiring only 22 credits[iii], which has raised concerns among educators about the potential reduction in the number of history courses required for graduation.
Nationwide, a shift in focus is underway towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to compete in a highly technological world, sometimes at the expense of subjects like history.
The US is transforming
The need for historical knowledge at this moment in time is especially critical because the US, and wider world, is undergoing generational change. It is the position of Ad Astra that the US isn’t absolutely declining, but is relatively declining as Asia and the heart of Eurasia revert to their pre-Industrial Revolution position in world. These are world historical changes often obscured by the day-to-day news covered by the Western press.
Two recent American experiences show what can happen when the lessons of history aren’t heeded.
First, the American quagmire in Afghanistan could have been avoided by a simple look at the historical experiences of other great powers in Afghanistan, not to mention the US experience in Vietnam. In the 1980s, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and faced a costly insurgency, forcing their withdrawal in 1989. Many historians cite this military misadventure as a contributing factor to the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. Similarly, British forces in the 19th century encountered fierce resistance, culminating in their disastrous retreat from Kabul in 1842. This debacle highlighted the challenges of controlling Afghanistan and left a lasting legacy of distrust and hostility towards foreign intervention. There is a reason Afghanistan is nicknamed “the graveyard of empires”.
Figure 1: Yuri Andropov, 69, Konstantin Chernenko, 73, and Joe Biden, 81
Second, age has been an issue in the 2024 presidential campaign, with voters from both political parties expressing concerns about President Biden and former President Trump’s ages, 81 and 78, respectively. Last week, the nation saw a disastrous debate performance from Mr. Biden that confirmed voter’s preexisting concerns. According to a New York Times/Siena poll after the debate, 74% of Americans said Mr. Biden is “too old to be an effective president.[iv]” 42% say the same about Mr. Trump[v]. Caution over nominating Mr. Biden should have been taken more seriously after a reading of 1980s Soviet history. Yuri Andropov and Konstantin Chernenko, both elderly and in poor health, had brief tenures as Soviet leaders from 1982 to 1984 and 1984 to 1985, respectively. Their inability to implement significant reforms or address the USSR's systemic issues exacerbated the decline of the Soviet Union, leading to increased stagnation.
More history education
This issue is solvable: require a more comprehensive history curriculum in US K-12 education. An emphasis on US history is necessary but not enough, and more world history should also be required to prepare students for a global economy. The emphasis on just 20th century events should also be reduced to avoid the recency bias that pervades the current political conversation.
Understanding history is not merely an academic exercise but a vital component of an informed citizenry capable of making sound decisions. The decline in history education in the US, combined with the overwhelming influx of information from modern technology, underscores the urgent need for a reinvigorated focus on history in K-12 curriculums. By learning from the past, we can navigate the complexities of the present and future with greater wisdom and foresight, avoiding the pitfalls of those who came before us. The lessons of history remind us that knowledge and context are essential tools for maintaining a healthy democracy and a prosperous society.
[i] https://edsource.org/2023/latest-test-results-underscore-declining-knowledge-of-u-s-history-and-civics/689766
https://peterlevine.ws/?p=22652
[iii] https://www.ednc.org/state-board-follows-up-on-graduation-requirements-parent-hearings-other-budget-items/
[iv] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/poll-debate-biden-trump.html
[v] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/poll-debate-biden-trump.html