History classes are often seen as something students just have to do graduate. As a student, I can't say that I haven't felt the same at times. Everyday I witness peers make historical claims that aren't true, or statements that they don't care to correct. Yet, this sinlt something that can be blamed on students entirely. How can a highschool student really know exactly what they are saying if they are surrounded by elders and rolemodels that make the same mistakes on a larger scale and don't bother to fix them?
In the article, "When it Comes to History, We are All Sarah Palin", Leonard Pitts states that "where history is concerned, this is fast becoming a nation of ignoramuses and amnesiacs." He also poses the question of "how can our children write the next chapter of a story they don't even know?" Pitts says these things to allow us to realize that our country is not a country where science knows overpowers the newest celebrity breakup. Some high school students, college students, and even adults can't explain and believe the wrongs of slavery. How can we be expected to make history when some of us cannot see and learn past mistakes? A famous quote comes to mind. "History repeats itself." Until we learn what to look for and what to never do again, we won't be able to stop ourselves from making the same mistakes all over again.
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