Save History Education: National History Day

Last week the Parents Coalition was honored with an invitation to interview Ken Burns, the distinguished film producer; Norm Augustine, the retired CEO of Lockheed Martin; and Cathy Gorn, the Executive Director of National History Day (NHD), regarding NHD and the importance of teaching history to our children.


The Parents Coalition is a strong supporter of NHD, and offers a prize each year on the topic, ‘Education’ at our local Montgomery County NHD competition, which is organized by the Montgomery County Historical Society. NHD is a year-long program in which school children undertake original historical research, examine primary and secondary sources, and present their findings in the spring. For more information, go here.

The impetus for the interview is the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), currently known as the ‘No Child Left Behind’ Act. According to Gorn, the No Child Left Behind Act, “left history behind.” The ESEA reauthorization is an opportunity to make sure History education is front and center in the education of our children. Representative John Kline (R-MN) chairs the U.S. House Education and the Workforce Committee, which is discussing the reauthorization.

In the interview, Burns and Augustine both stressed the importance of History education, tying History to Civics and active involvement in the community. Both pointed out that learning and practicing history encourages children to acquire the writing and critical thinking skills necessary for success in the workplace and in the public square. Both Burns and Augustine stated that we have reached a critical juncture and that our American students are woefully ignorant of our history. Augustine said that history education and the critical thinking that is required for the NHD project is invaluable in the work place. He also pointed out that, “history really is its own reward.” Burns stressed the need to return the idea of ‘story’ to our history. He said that history books are too often written by committee and politicized, and that “we need to supplement and ignite an interest in history.”

Gorn gave the example of Hunter Scott, age 11, who began investigating the history of the USS Indianapolis as part of a National History Day project. The USS Indianapolis sank after attacked by a Japanese submarine, on July 29th, 1945, during World War II in a horrific incident. The captain of the ship, Charles Butler McVay III, was court martialed. His court martial stood for decades, until Hunter Scott, age 11 examined primary sources, conducted interviews, and worked tirelessly, including testifying before Congress, to prove McVay’s innocence. McVay was exonerated by Congress in 2000.

To make the point that history is critical to our children’s education, the NHD organization funded a study to identify how the study of History impacts children. The study can be read here.

Some of the important findings include:

• NHD students outperform their non-NHD peers on state standardized tests, not only in social studies, but in reading, science and math as well.

• NHD students are better writers, who write with a purpose and real voice, and marshal solid evidence to support their point of view.

• NHD students are critical thinkers who can digest, analyze and synthesize information.

• NHD students learn 21st century skills. They learn how to collaborate with team members, talk to experts, manage their time and persevere.

• NHD has a positive impact among students whose interests in academic subjects may wane in high school.

Now it’s your turn. The study of History is under threat. Time devoted to studies of History and Civics is being cut, as the national and local focus on math and science is crowding our other vital curricular concerns, including.

Last week NHD sent a letter to Congress and the White House urging that History funding and educational time be restored. The letter is reproduced below.

Please add your voice. Email your representatives and the White House and tell them to put History back in the ESEA.

To email Rep. Chris Van Hollen: https://vanhollen.house.gov/Contact/default.aspx
To email Rep. Donna Edwards: http://donnaedwards.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=52&sectiontree=4,52
To email Sen. Ben Cardin: http://cardin.senate.gov/contact/
To email Sen. Barbara Mikulski: http://mikulski.senate.gov/contact/
To email DoE Secretary Arne Duncan: arne.duncan@ed.gov

Thank you.
Paula Bienenfeld

History Policy Recommendations Letter Duncan_5 3 11_ (2)[1]