The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Austin, an intrepid young student-reporter, embarks on the noble mission of answering the question, "How much basic knowledge do American high school students really have?" The answer, however, may not be exactly what you want to hear.

"Do you know the vice president of the United States?" Austin asks.

"I don't know who it it's, it's, it's somebody....Bin Ladin," one student responds.

The video continues in similar fashion, asking everything from, "In what war did America gain independence?" (which no one answered correctly without a hint) to "What countries border America?"

Comedy aside, the United State's poor international rankings in subject proficiencies such as math is a problem that could cost the country around $75 trillion over 80 years, according to a study called "Globally Challenged: Are U.S. Students Ready to Compete?"

Based on the research, U.S. students place behind 31 other countries in math proficiency, and behind 16 other countries in reading.


Paul Peterson, a Harvard government professor, notes the effect this could have on the economy.

"If we're going to grow at the rate that we hope to grow at to address the many issues that exist in our society, we need to have a powerful educational system that is producing a highly proficient workforce," Peterson told HuffPost in October.

Finland shocked the world with their scores on the 2000 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) --an international exam for 15-year-olds where it ranked first for reading proficiency. By 2009, the country inhabited the top of the roster in reading, second in science and sixth in math.

A 2010 study by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed the U.S. history testing scores are "stagnant," with only 9 percent of fourth graders correctly identifying a photograph of Abraham Lincoln and stating two reasons for his importance.

Lee White, executive director of the National History Coalition, says the problem stems from history's place in American curriculum.

"They've narrowed the curriculum to teach to the test. History has been deemphasized," he said. "You can't expect kids to have great scores in history when they're not being taught history."

Oh, I know, I know!!!  Let's throw even more money at the problem, maybe that will change pathetic attitudes toward education!

I was thinking other ways.

All my history instructors when I moved to this state were coaches.

One was a wrestling coach who taught off a 2 year old syllabus written by a teacher's aide. That was my AP course in History, Junior Year.

Here in Tulsa?

My kid has had AP and IB history courses over at BTW and they were more challenging than my college history classes. Just talking to the teacher for a few minutes was exhilarating. Loves his subject, knows how to make it fun.

I suspect that history is pretty controversial since these days no one agrees on what the truth is and everyone is an expert after reading something on the net. I got lectured by an extremist at a party one time about how Lincoln destroyed our country and ignored the constitution. Smart guy otherwise, in fact a darned fine cpa, but stupid as dirt when it came to politics and history. When a guy like that goes to chew out the teacher and principal, the next step is to de-emphasize history by moving the wrestling coach.

BA.  It was in the 80's.  BA (the city of) didn't allow dancing so history was probably frowned upon at the time.

BA.  It was in the 80's.  BA (the city of) didn't allow dancing so history was probably frowned upon at the time.

Last night I attended the TU lecture series at which George Will was the speaker.

And who could remember all of the European History since it dates all the way back to God....lol