U.S. education quality questioned following mixed marks on test

WASHINGTON -- High school seniors have a poor grasp of U.S. history, with less than half able to identify or explain the Monroe Doctrine, Nat Turner's rebellion or the Bay of Pigs invasion.

The poor showing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP, prompted educators on Thursday to question whether schools are adequately teaching U.S. history -- and whether teachers are adequately trained.

Only 43 percent of 12th-graders had at least a basic understanding of U.S. history, unchanged from 1994, the last time the test was given.

"Clearly our high schools are failing to teach U.S. history well and to awaken mature students to the value of history as a study that matters deeply in their own lives and to the life of our nation," said education historian Diane Ravitch.

Among fourth-graders, 67 percent had at least a basic understanding -- 3 percent more than in 1994.

Eighth-graders also did slightly better, with 64 percent showing at least a basic grasp of history -- also 3 percent more than in 1994.

All students' scores were lower than on recent NAEP math and reading tests.

'Nation's Report Card'

NAEP, known informally as "The Nation's Report Card," is given in different subjects periodically in three grades. The current form of the U.S. history test was first given in 1994. The scores were released Thursday by the Education Department.

The 2001 test was given to about 29,600 students, 87 percent of whom attend public schools. The randomly selected test-takers answered multiple-choice, short-answer and essay questions, with each student answering questions on only part of the entire test.

According to the National Assessment Governing Board, the independent group that develops tests in history, reading, math and other subjects, "basic" shows partial mastery for grade-level work. A higher level, "proficient," shows solid academic performance and the ability to apply knowledge to actual situations.

Only 17 percent of fourth-graders were at or above proficient; 18 percent of eighth-graders were at or above proficient; and 11 percent of 12th-graders were at or above proficient.

The average fourth-grader scored in the "basic" range, as did the average eighth-grader. The average 12th-grader was "below basic."

Ravitch, who is also a member of the governing board, called the scores "a mixed and troublesome picture" and said the seniors' scores were "truly abysmal."

"Since the seniors are very close to voting age or already have reached it, one can only feel alarm that they know so little about their nation's history and express so little capacity to reflect on its meaning," she said.

Bruce Craig of the National Coordinating Committee for the Promotion of History noted that the Bush administration wants to cut in half a $100 million program to help schools teach American history, but acknowledged that "We ought to be placing our emphasis on improving teacher quality."

Kay Knowles, a U.S. history teacher at James River High School in Midlothian, Va., and board member of the National Council on the Social Studies, said many schools, especially in inner-city and rural areas, have trouble attracting certified history teachers. She said the current group of high school students also may be more poorly prepared in history because the subject was overlooked on standardized tests when they were attending elementary and middle school.

"When they come to us, they do not have a background in social studies, and they don't take it seriously, because it's not been stressed," Knowles said. "Social studies has always been put on the back burner."

While Ravitch called the test questions "fundamental American history," many questions were challenging, especially those posed to older students.

Eighth-graders had to name one major consequence of the French and Indian War; 47 percent got that one right.

Twelfth-graders had to identify two groups that wanted the United States to stay on the gold standard in the late 1900s. Was it (a) Western farmers and ranchers, (b) Eastern bankers and the Republican party, (c) Unionized workers and nonunionized farm laborers, or (d) The Socialist party and the Industrial Workers of the World (Wobblies)?

Fifty-six percent correctly answered (b).

There was some good news for minority students: While their scores still lag as much as 33 points behind those of their white counterparts, the gap shrank considerably for black fourth-graders and Hispanic 12th-graders.

NAEP scores in geography are scheduled to be released this summer.