Chris Pappas: “a recent poll showed that the majority of Americans do not even know the most basic facts about American history. Just…”

“a recent poll showed that the majority of Americans do not even know the most basic facts about American history. Just listen to these revelations. Six out of ten respondents did not know that the Revolutionary War began in 1775. Sixty percent did not know that Thomas Paine wrote ``Common Sense,'' the political manifesto that helped inspire the revolution. Eighty-nine percent did not know that James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights. Thirty-six percent could not identify George Washington as the subject of the phrase, ``First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.'' In sum, the birth of this great Nation is a mystery to most of its citizens. What can explain this development where generations of children graduate from school lacking in basic knowledge about American history? Academic fads, the substitution of nonsense for facts, the denigration of Western ideals and American achievements, and an utter lack of standards that are actually enforced. Unless that changes, generations will continue to graduate ignorant of our national heritage.”