We never know too much about history in this day and age

Let’s hope the second time is the charm.
The premise, “You are entitled to your own opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts” has already taken a beating in recent years.
But when the state Board of Education again proposed reducing the number of social studies courses required for high school graduation it looked like a lot of history was going to be lost.
Then, wouldn’t you know it, that quote — “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it” — turned up to haunt the BOE and quash this misguided proposal once more.
The policy was proposed in December 2017, but was abandoned after public outcry. It was proposed again last December and has been all but abandoned again.
Last week, days before the public comment period ended, the state schools superintendent said he would recommend the BOE drop this proposal again based on overwhelming negative response to it.
We’re uncertain about the number of responses, but if the superintendent’s comments are any indication it was a virtual tsunami for maintaining four social studies credits.
“This review has brought a vigorous response from the public and, most importantly, our educators. … This level of response is a reflection of the importance of this issue,” he said.
The state BOE can still approve Policy 2510, but it’s probably safe to say most board members understand the arguments against condensing American history and not requiring world history.
We are not deaf to arguments for tailoring more public schools’ curriculum to individual students. That is, allowing them more flexibility for careers in computer science and career technical education.
But that said, there can be no retreat from fostering citizenship, safeguarding our democracy and teaching how to evaluate all sources of information.
Informed and reasoned decisions today look more to be based on allegiance to politics than the public good.
Facts should not ever be shaded despite the stains some leave. That way, in a sense, we are all witnesses to what happened and what’s happening.
It’s vital that young people develop the ability to pursue the truth and know our history, warts and all.
Social studies classes still provide for partisan positions and for people to carry on their arguments. However, history helps to ensure agreement on basic facts.
Some educators refer to those facts as “foundational information,” which helps to frame future skepticism and opens a window to accurate sources.
Students must learn to think for themselves, but facts from the past — and the present — matter and there’s no better place to learn them than in a history class,
And we would hope that the state’s school board doesn’t need a third time to learn that.