College Seniors Lack Basic Knowledge in American History

Despite Increasing High School G.P.A.s, More College Professors Find Students Unprepared

A survey by the Center for Survey Research and Analysis at the University of Connecticut found that many college senior lack basic knowledge in subject related to American history or the economy.

However, gross these survey results may seem, most university professors or high school teachers recognize the growing education gap between American students and students in other countries where the curriculums are much more strict and demanding. Young Americans may be living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but they certainly are not as smart as youths in other countries despite higher than ever SAT scores and high school grade point averages in this country.

According to the survey, professors believe 81 percent of college seniors are at a D or F grade level when it comes to American history. In addition, the survey found that many college seniors had a difficult time identifying words from the Gettysburg Address or identifying main concepts from the Constitution.

In most cases, unless a college student is a History major in college, general education requirements usually only ask that college students take about two history classes out of their entire undergraduate careers. Students can of course take more classes as choices to satisfy elective requirements, but taking such classes are generally not required. Unless students are reading newspapers or watching news on television, few understand current history let alone events that make up the country's past.

In general, the survey found that college seniors know less than incoming freshmen about America's history, government, foreign policy or economy. This probably holds true for most since most students take some form of history all four years in high school. It is American government that is not a requirement all four years in many American high schools that may be partly to blame for the lack of retention when it comes to knowledge of the country's political or economic systems.