Don't Know Nothing Much 'bout History – Commentary by David Anderson

According to the 2001 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) examination on U.S. history 57 percent of high school seniors – who are now voters -- actually score below basic on their knowledge of U.S. history. The exam tested 29,000 students in fourth, eighth and 12th grades, rating their historical knowledge as basic, proficient or advanced.

After this result was released, to help students, the Senate of Georgia presented a bill (SB 394) called the 'American Heritage in Education Act.’. While I (obviously) see nothing wrong with teaching students about American history and its heritage, the bill (SB 394) itself specifies what must be taught about American Heritage. There seems to be some parts of history missing in the bill which are equally as important to America’s and Georgia’s heritage as the Declaration of Independence. That missing heritage and history is that of the Confederacy.

According to the NAEP, 57 percent of fourth graders were taught and learned that the Civil War was about slavery. Now the problem begins to show. Slavery did not become an issue of the war until President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Either teachers do not have proper material to teach that part of history or they themselves were never taught the real reason why the war was fought.

Many historical and heritage organizations have material available to the teachers to help them teach their students the rich history and heritage of America and Georgia. These same organizations may even have a member that will come to give a program to the class.

It was through this very act that I became interested in history when I was a junior high student living in Starkville, Mississippi. I was fortunate enough to have a history teacher who was also a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Through her knowledge and materials she had on hand, I learned a lot about the history that split a nation to follow their courses and that the Confederate States of America had set up itself as newly formed union.

SB 394 is a good bill, but it could be better if it was amended to add documents, speeches and writings by those who were part of the Confederate States of America. The rich heritage of America and Georgia cannot be fully appreciated without recognition of Georgia's Confederate history and understanding the War for Southern Independence.

David Anderson is Commander of the Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler Camp 863 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Conyers, Georgia .

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Text of SB 394