Is American history no longer taught?

To the editor:

In 2004, being interested in the Lewis and Clark voyage of discovery, June and I set out to follow their route as closely as highways would allow.

Each afternoon we stopped at a McDonald's for a hot fudge sundae. At each stop I explained to the server that we were following the Lewis and Clark trail and asked if they knew which river Lewis and Clark were to explore. In 2,000 miles I never found one teen who knew that it was the Missouri River. On a separate trip one individual opined that Lewis and Clark might be a rock group.

Early this month, with Independence Day approaching, I asked a local teen why the bank next door would be closed on July 4. She only knew that it was a bank holiday. She knew nothing of Independence Day. Another server did better. He was aware Independence Day was observed on July 4 and celebrated the signing of a document. He though maybe it was signed in New Orleans. I asked another clerk why the shop would be closed July 4, and she said maybe the shop couldn't get enough help to stay open.

Labor Day is next, but I don't believe I will question the observance of that holiday, because the workers will be laboring while government takes a holiday.

As for Thanksgiving, I'm afraid to ask to whom we should direct our thanks. That, of course, is a separate issue, being the responsibility of parents and church rather than schools.

VANCE COMBS, Cape Girardeau