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July 24, 2008 7:37:45 AM CDT

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Don't Know Much About History...

Posted Feb 26, 08 7:00 PM CST in Arts & Living 

(Newser) – US teens know little history and less literature, says a study out today. Only 52% of 17-year-olds could name the theme of George Orwell's 1984, and 43% knew when the Civil War was fought. Students faired far better on topics that schools cover, however, such as Pearl Harbor and Martin Luther King Jr., USA Today reports.

"What a better thing it would be if people also had the Civil War part and the civil rights part, and the Harriet Tubman part and the Uncle Tom's Cabin part," said an education think tank source. Some educators counter that high school students are taking college-level history and literature courses in record numbers. "Not all is woe in American education," said a member of the College Board.

Source USA Today

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Only about 51% of students could identify what McCarthyism was.   (Archive Photos)
Students are hard at work in this undated file photo.   (IndexOpen)
A student prepares for class in this undated file pic.   (IndexOpen)
Students read in this undated file photo.   (IndexOpen)
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education  • literature  • student  • history  • Martin Luther King Jr.  • Civil War  • George Orwell  • Pearl Harbor


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