SC hasn’t taught economics or civics in a long time. And it shows in the electorate.

I disagree with public education, but a system without civics and economics is completely indefensible.

quote:

In the mid 1970's it was mandatory in our public school. As I recall, the bicentennial was a big deal both in high school and in society in general. A much bigger deal than this 250th has been. I don't recall any negative propaganda trying to ruin the celebrations.

I was a 5 y/o 1976 and remember the celebration to be a much bigger deal than the 250th. From special coins, parades, and seeing Uncle Sam plastered everywhere, it just felt like a bigger deal. I know there was still a lot of public discord around the Vietnam war in the time period but the Cold War was still raging and we lived under the threat of nuclear annihilation. Now the commies/socialist are being elected and sent to Washington.

I believe the total destruction of civics and our history began to change during the 90s but accelerated in the mid 2000s during GWOT. You now have a whole generation of people that weren’t raised to believe in American exceptionalism. Our competing ideologies and values cannot coexist. We will have to go one way or the other.

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
The blame is easy to place. Public education. Which is an oxymoron.

We had to take Civics in school - Junior high and grade school. But then amazingly it morphed into something called ‘Social Studies’ and Civics was lost.

That's the root of the problem. Public education. Which is an oxymoron. Public education IS SOCIALISM.

The fact that it has taken a century to devolve to this level does not change the fact that it is socialism and socialism will teach and indoctrinate young skulls full of mush to be good little socialists.

Education is the primary responsibility of parents, not government.

Home schooling is hard for parents. Private education is expensive, I know. Religious education is indoctrination. But the truth is that ALL education is indoctrination. The only question is, what is being indoctrinated into these malleable youngsters? And by whom?

The more involved parents are involved, the better off the child will be. If you have children in public schools, look at alternatives. You will have to sacrifice to do so... I know. But it is worth it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
I was born in 1946 and presumably that makes me a boomer. It’s impossible for me to remember exactly what I was taught in high school about American history because I’ve read so many other books about the subject since. I do know, though, that almost anyone about my age would have been taught something about the basics.

I do remember 9th grade US History in 1974. The teacher's father was at Hickam Field on Dec 7, 1941. He came into the class and told us of his experience. The teacher had a personal love of US history and his class was much more interesting than any of us teens expected.

That New Jersey public school system is likely fully woke these days, so the kids probably learn how awful this country is. My eldest daughter got that kind of indoctrination in the Salt Lake area public schools in the early 2000's.

But my younger 2 went to a private school that not only taught history and civics, they emphasized thinking and analysis across the curriculum.

It's no surprise the eldest is a hopeless lefty while the other 2 are well informed and have well considered opinions.

The study of history has so many lessons, beyond just reciting specific events.
Events aren't just the dates the most memorable thing happens.
The years, sometimes decades, leading up to them are important to understand, so you learn why they happened, not just what happened.
From those lessons we can start to understand and sometimes predict future events and make better decisions (hopefully).
For example, the Stamp Act and the Japanese invading Manchuria. Both need to be studied when you're older, high school age. But in Elementary school the more basic dates and events need to be taught to lay the groundwork.
Sad to see how far education has fallen.

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

Originally posted by nhtagmember:
The blame is easy to place. Public education. Which is an oxymoron.

We had to take Civics in school - Junior high and grade school. But then amazingly it morphed into something called ‘Social Studies’ and Civics was lost.

The more involved parents are involved, the better off the child will be.

That's the crux.
As pointed out, the ciriculum being taught at most schools with regards to civics, history, poly sci, etc....is severely lacking. Kids over the last 50-60-70 years would complain, if it wasn't math class they hated the most, it was history because it was sooo boring, requiring memorization of names and dates. Yet, these kids now as adults, are the ones who lately have had a 'awakening' to history and because they didn't pay attention to the subject during their formative years, they're willfully filling the gaps in their heads with all manor of revisionism, myths and falsehoods so that it aligns with their 'beliefs'; warping the facts to fit their agenda. I suppose this isn't new but, if parents took a bit more time to talk to their kids, rather than lecture or rely on the school system to educate their kids, things would be a bit different. Today, ignoramuses walk among us.

quote:

Originally posted by dking271:

quote:

In the mid 1970's it was mandatory in our public school. As I recall, the bicentennial was a big deal both in high school and in society in general. A much bigger deal than this 250th has been. I don't recall any negative propaganda trying to ruin the celebrations.

I was a 5 y/o 1976 and remember the celebration to be a much bigger deal than the 250th. From special coins, parades, and seeing Uncle Sam plastered everywhere, it just felt like a bigger deal. I know there was still a lot of public discord around the Vietnam war in the time period but the Cold War was still raging and we lived under the threat of nuclear annihilation. Now the commies/socialist are being elected and sent to Washington.

I believe the total destruction of civics and our history began to change during the 90s but accelerated in the mid 2000s during GWOT. You now have a whole generation of people that weren’t raised to believe in American exceptionalism. Our competing ideologies and values cannot coexist. We will have to go one way or the other.

12 in '76. Pretty awesome year (except for the Thompson flood). Red, white, and blue everywhere.

Learning more everyday, and mostly that 1775 to 1783 was nothing short of a Miracle.

Like some here, I remember history and civics classes when I attended public schools in the late 50s and early 60s. And our parents were involved in PTA. Not many years away from the end of WWII and the Korean War, so there was strong public interest in children learning about the history and government of the US. Regrettably, much of that has fallen by the wayside. Over the 4th of July, we had younger homeowners in the development suggesting on Facebook that "Boomers" move into over 55 communities if they had problems with the way the community is being run. I am sure that these attitudes carry over into public education. And this is South Carolina, not the Northeast states!