Is It Just Me or Are High School Kids Less Educated?

[Chef Dave]

In culinary arts I've started tying some of our culinary lessons into history. On Wednesday of last week, we made hardtack using a recipe similar to the one first used by Josiah Brent in 1801. I explained that Josiah Brent had founded Brent and Company, that the company still exists after 207 years, and that the company produced hardtack (hard crackers) for use on 19th century sailing ships. Hard tack was also adopted for use by the U.S. Army during the Mexican War and was later used by both Union and Confederate troops during the U.S. civil war.

The students gave me a blank look. The freshmen and sophomores knew nothing about 19th century sailing ships or the Mexican war. One of the girls tentatively raised her hand and said, "Didn't they make a movie about the civil war at some place like Gettysburg?"

On another occasion we talked about the history of the taco. Tortillas were first used by the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs of Meso America. Some of the tribes depending upon the regional area, folded the tortillas around fried fish or roasted grubs and insects.

After Cortez conquered Tenochtitlan, he ordered a feast for his officers. His cooks used Indian flat bread and wrapped the corn tortillas around pork imported from a Spanish colony in Cuba.

These are the first known pork tacos that were served in the Americas.

Again - the kids gave me a blank look. They didn't know who Cortes was or who the conquistadors were. They didn't know anything about the Aztecs or the Spanish exploration and conquest of the New World.

Is it just me ... or are the children of today deplorably uninformed?

[Bananas]

Our 6th grade students learn about Cortes and the Tenochtitlans.

[sgaestel]

I know the students are being taught the information. I don't understand how they do not retain it. Especially my students, who are in English classes. They learn the same literature findamentals EVERY YEAR. Yet they still give blank faces when I use literary terms, and I teach them again.
I wonder if people don't retain until college. I don't remember most of what I learned in high school. Hmmmm....

[jsfowler]

Students are presented with the information and it depends on how the teacher presents it as to whether or not they will retain it. All kids learn differently and if you are not presenting the information to them on that day in a way they will remember it, then they will not retain. The next day, perhaps you are, so they will. I don't think it is teachers who are failing to present info, it is the student's lack of responsibility and motivation that is the problem. They expect to be entertained and wowed every day...and quite honestly we only have ourselves to blame.

[Spectre]

What you've noticed is not uncommon, Chef Dave.

Ever since this country got into the "education reform" business, aka testamania craze, few elementary teachers bother with social studies (many are told NOT to) and, honestly, I've the sense that students retain very little anymore. I am not sure if it is the presentation method, as jsfowler mentioned or if their minds are just crowded with so many other things OR if they just don't give a flip.

With the short attention span most have and unwillingness to work hard for much of anything, I am not surprised.

The problem has been building up for years, actually.I know of many adults who don't know basic facts like which states border on the one they live in and who President LINcoln was.

It's amazing.

Our instant gratification society just seems to be losing its fabric.

[Chef Dave]

The problem has been building up for years, actually.I know of many adults who don't know basic facts like which states border on the one they live in and who President LINcoln was.


This vaguely reminds me of my first year teaching. I started out as a 5th grade teacher in south Texas. When I explained that I was from out of state and asked if any of the kids had ever been out of state, I was confronted by several waving hands.

"I've been to Houston," announced one kid.

"I've been to Corpus Christi."

"I've been to Amarillo."

No, no, and no ... I had to explain that each of these places were cities in Texas. :eek:

[theteacherchron]

Students are presented with the information and it depends on how the teacher presents it as to whether or not they will retain it. All kids learn differently and if you are not presenting the information to them on that day in a way they will remember it, then they will not retain.

You are so right. I can recall my teammates asking me why the students were able to remember my lesson and not theirs. It is because my lessons were more engaging and did not involve crossword puzzles like some of them. I put so much time into my lessons and my classroom environment benefited.
Additionally, students I have not seen in years will approach me years later and still be able to recall what I taught.

[Miss T]

It is because my lessons were more engaging and did not involve crossword puzzles like some of them. I put so much time into my lessons and my classroom environment benefited.

I agree. So much of my schooling was "Drill and Kill" and I couldn't tell you half of what I learned in certain classes. I was a "good" student and did my best, but those that weren't and didn't care didn't learn. You were pretty much on your own.

However, I remember a family vacation to Boston when my dad referred to Paul Revere. Neither myself or my 2 younger sisters knew who or what he was referring to. My parents were NOT happy.

[War_Eagle]

In culinary arts I've started tying some of our culinary lessons into history. On Wednesday of last week, we made hardtack using a recipe similar to the one first used by Josiah Brent in 1801. I explained that Josiah Brent had founded Brent and Company, that the company still exists after 207 years, and that the company produced hardtack (hard crackers) for use on 19th century sailing ships. Hard tack was also adopted for use by the U.S. Army during the Mexican War and was later used by both Union and Confederate troops during the U.S. civil war.

I understand that it was common for soldiers and sailors to take the hardtack and soak it in their coffee, both because the hardtack was often very old and hard and also to dilute the coffee, which was ofter extremely strong, burnt, and not very good.


The students gave me a blank look. The freshmen and sophomores knew nothing about 19th century sailing ships or the Mexican war. One of the girls tentatively raised her hand and said, "Didn't they make a movie about the civil war at some place like Gettysburg?"

On another occasion we talked about the history of the taco. Tortillas were first used by the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs of Meso America. Some of the tribes depending upon the regional area, folded the tortillas around fried fish or roasted grubs and insects.

After Cortez conquered Tenochtitlan, he ordered a feast for his officers. His cooks used Indian flat bread and wrapped the corn tortillas around pork imported from a Spanish colony in Cuba.

These are the first known pork tacos that were served in the Americas.

Again - the kids gave me a blank look. They didn't know who Cortes was or who the conquistadors were. They didn't know anything about the Aztecs or the Spanish exploration and conquest of the New World.

Is it just me ... or are the children of today deplorably uninformed?

Yes.

I was a history teacher and am a history nut. After I quit teaching high school, I got a gig teaching a few classes at a local community college and I was always stunned at the things I had to stop and explain to the students.

How on Earth does somebody get out of high school not knowing about Articles of Confederation?

I can't tell you how many times I would ask on a quiz, "Name three events or conditions that led to the Civil War" and many of them would have no clue.

[teacher5]

Here's still another anecdotal. I had the opportunity to listen and watch a middle school group of students in summer school this past summer. They were in a class for those who failed or nearly failed 8th grade American History. It was the weekend right before the 4th of July and the teacher asked them "Why do we celebrate the fourth of July?" The answers were: 1) It's a chance for people to shoot off fireworks! 2) It's a time to have a barbecue and eat hot dogs, hamburgers, and other stuff like that like they ate long ago. 3) It's a time to get together with your friends and family for a celebration. So the teacher followed up with, "What important event are we celebrating in America's history?" Finally, he got a response that said, "I think we are having a birthday celebration for America!" I think it should be a requirement for high school graduation that a student at least know that July 4th, 1776 is the day the patriots declared their independence from Great Britain. Not every lesson we present can have a "hook" or be a form of entertainment for our students. True you can do re-enactments, or role plays, etc., but sometimes you just have to read it, connect the facts to solidify it, and memorize the information. I teach 5th grade, and each year more kids come to 5th grade not knowing there basic number facts. It's like a plumber trying to repair a broken pipe without his tools. I really wish someone would draw a line in the sand and say if you can't learn a few of the basics you can't go on. With all the support systems and personnel vai the No Child Left Behind Law, we need to hold parents responsible, too. If a child does not meet certain minimum standards, may be parents need to be assessed a monetary penalty, or some kind of punitive tax. If this happened, I bet we would see a lot more kids show up to extra help and support programs. I bet their attitude would change, too. My dad, may he rest in peace, used to say, when you hit a person in their pocketbook, they react. Sorry to ramble on, but does anyone else think this has merit?

[Spectre]

Let me amend your proposal a bit. The notion has merit, but what if parents were enticed with either a tax break or a monetary bonus if their children achieve proficiency.

That might get their attention. :)

[MissTeach]

I've always liked the suggestion that parents be held responsible if their children miss school and also if their child breaks the law. Our school might not have to have so many fundraisers if the parents had to pay us each time their child skipped or got a displinary slip!

[War_Eagle]

Teacher5, I'll see your anecdote and raise you an interview I just heard.

I'm listening to an old podcast (09/01/08, Hour 2) of the Way of the Master Radio Show and Todd Friel is interviewing a fourteen year old boy.

It went something like this:


Todd: (after listening to the boy answer a question about God) So how do you know this?

Boy: Well, I'm Lutheran.

Todd: Tell me, who was Luther?

Boy: Um...Martin Luther King.

Todd: Ah, yes, the great German Reformer, Martin Luther King. He's the one who nailed his "I Have a Dream" speech to the church door in Wittenberg.

Boy: Umm....I think he invented the printing press or something.

Todd: No, that was Steve Guttenberg. He was a very popular actor back in the 80's...

Todd explained to the boy that he was just teasing and straightened him out about Luther and Gutenberg.

Now, I don't expect a fourteen year old to know all of the details of the Reformation, but if you're a Lutheran, shouldn't you know who Martin Luther was?

As far as the parents are concerned, I don't believe in tax incentives, but I do agree that something has to be done.

When I taught, if parents were not involved, I basically just badgered them until they would do anything to get me off their back.

[Helix]

I was giving an anatomy lesson on Leonardo Da Vinci's role in modern anatomy and it was split...1/2 didn't even know the Mona Lisa or who Da Vinci was. The other half were telling me about the Vitruvium and all the scientific inventions he did. I get very discouraged on one hand...on the other hand, use it as an opportunity to feed them new knowledge!