Today’s history textbooks would suggest that our founding fathers were like cold cereal: “charmed,” “lucky” or “flakes.” What, Brother DeGraff asks, is the purpose of teaching history? Is it to revise and reinterpret the past according to present-day values and agendas? Or is it to preserve traditional values, instill patriotism and learn from the lessons of the past? Increasingly, our students are in danger of losing their civic memory. They resemble the student who, when asked, “What’s worse, ignorance or apathy?” answered, “I don’t know and I don’t care!” Ignorance and freedom are not compatible in any society. So what’s in your history curriculum? More importantly, what’s not in your history curriculum?
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