Bill Bennett: “Yesterday there was an article in the newspaper that caught my attention. I hope sincerely that the article was…”

“Yesterday there was an article in the newspaper that caught my attention. I hope sincerely that the article was incorrect. All Members have had the experience of being quoted in the newspaper and wondering where the reporter got the information that was the basis of the story. I hope that is the case with this article. It was reported in the State of New Jersey a new set of history standards have been adopted and that textbooks in New Jersey high schools dealing with American history will now fail to mention the names of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, or Thomas Jefferson. Further, it said the word 'war' had been removed from the textbooks and in its place we have the word 'conflict,' and there would be no discussion of wars. Mr. President, I hope this is incorrect. It indicates that at least someone in New Jersey is prepared to make that State an isolated island of ignorance about American history. To think we can bring citizens into maturity in this country without their having any understanding of, indeed, no mention of, the names of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and the other Founding Fathers is absurd. One of the best-selling books currently in the marketplace is the history of John Adams by David McCullough. On the dust jacket of the book, McCullough says, accurately, we as Americans cannot know too much about our Founding Fathers. We must never forget them. We must always learn as much as we possibly can about them.”