Fort Sumter
I spent the last few days in Manhattan, Kansas at Kansas State University where an enterprising political science professor has put together a program devoted to the study of primary texts (which is to say, great books). On Thursday, I lectured in two classes, spoke informally at a luncheon, and gave an address after a banquet.
On Friday, I flew home via Chicago (due to fog, the trip took thirteen hours) and stopped by my office to pick up a collection of blue books filled out by my freshman earlier that day. I just finished grading all but the essay questions, and I came across an answer that rocked me back on my heels.
When asked to identify Fort Sumter, one student wrote, “battle during the Civil War at which, when it was over and the smoke cleared, Francis Scott Key saw the flag still standing – which inspired him to write the Star-Spangled Banner, which is the United States’ national anthem.”
This reminds me of a musical entitled Idiots Karamazov, which I saw many and many a year ago when I was working on my Ph.D. Written by Chris Durang and starring Meryl Streep and Sigourney Weaver back in the days when they were both graduate students at Yale, it purported to represent the confused mental meanderings of the senile Constance Garnett (who translated the bulk of Russian literature into English). All that I can say is that you have not lived if you have not been present to hear and see Ms. Weaver sing “Fathers and Sons, I’ve Got This Thing About Fathers and Sons” as a torch song in the manner of the Lennon Sisters.
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Feb '11
Re: Fort Sumter
When asked to identify Fort Sumter, one student wrote, “battle during the Civil War at which, when it was over and the smoke cleared, Francis Scott Key saw the flag still standing – which inspired him to write the Star-Spangled Banner, which is the United States’ national anthem.”
Is there any doubt that K-12 education in America is in dire straights? This student's exam answer only reinforces the fact that the liberal educational establishment has put education on a trajectory toward intellectual mediocrity and that is a rather kind critique of a dismal future for K-12 students going forward.
Dec '10
Re: Fort Sumter
On the bright side, at least he's in the same century. Hopefully, he knows which century it was.
I vaguely recall something about a poll in which only about half of Americans knew which century the Civil War was fought in.
Apr '11
Re: Fort Sumter
Sounds like an answer from a "contestant" in one of Leno's "Jay-Walking" bits!
Oh how far the mighty have fallen.
Jan '11
Re: Fort Sumter
Years from now, when that kid becomes a congressman, someone will ask him where he learned history .. and he'll proudly name you!
Feb '11
Re: Fort Sumter
It should be known as worm hole history. Francis Scott Key popped through the worm hole into Fort Sumter.
Dec '10
Re: Fort Sumter
“battle during the Civil War at which, when it was over and the smoke cleared, Francis Scott Key saw the flag still standing.."
The next thing he'll say was that the Marines helped hold it in place and show you the photograph of Iwo Jima as evidence...
Edited on Apr 9, 2011 at 1:47pmFeb '11
Re: Fort Sumter
Nickolas:
On the bright side, at least he's in the same century. Hopefully, he knows which century it was.
For a few semesters, at my wife's frantic behest, I attempted to moderate the online forum of the undergraduate bioethics course that she has taught for many years. I vividly remember one student who went on at length attempting to apply to a sociological issue "Einstein's Law of Opposite and Equal Reactions." Sadly, that was typical of the sort of 'facts' that usually surfaced on the rare occasions that they interrupted their interminable dissertations on their 'feelings' with supportive evidence.
Jan '11
Re: Fort Sumter
Doctor Rahe
Was that Yale musical Idiots Karamazov the one in which Streep sang
"You don't say, the butler did it;
I can't believe, the butler did it."
Oct '10
Re: Fort Sumter
He does seem to have the "future Congressman" role all wrapped up.
Apr '11
Re: Fort Sumter
Sadly, my initial reaction is "Wow! A student knows that Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem!"
In California, where I teach history at a small private high school, the state standards for US History cram everything from 1492-1900 into one unit. According to the state, were not even supposed to teach the War of 1812 (the imperialist Mexican War, is, of course, essential). Its all just a preview to the an in depth study of the Progressive Era. Students come to my school from some of the more wealthy public school systems in the nation, but they know nothing about history. On the first day I'll quiz high school juniors and seniors with questions like "What happened in 1776?" Blank stares from about 80% of them. I could go on and on.
Dec '10
Re: Fort Sumter
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? -Bluto (John Belushi)
Dec '10
Re: Fort Sumter
Ever see You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown? The number in which Lucy teaches Linus "facts" about how the world works is wonderful. At the end, Linus asks why Charlie Brown is banging his head against a tree, and she says, "He's loosening the bark, so it cam grow faster."
Jan '11
Re: Fort Sumter
And which Primary Texts/Great Books will the professor at KSU be teaching?
I enjoyed listening to Bruce Meyer's bit on the CBC based on his course "Essential Texts: A Background for Literature" and will confess to having read none of them: The Bible, The Odyssey, The Aenid, The Metamorphoses and The Theban Plays.