The Next Big Idea Daily We’re Teaching American History All Wrong
11 snips
Jan 22, 2026 
James Traub, a journalist and educator, discusses his year-long investigation into American civic education, revealing students' alarming lack of knowledge about key historical texts and polarized narratives. He highlights promising programs that effectively engage students and the need for a rigorous liberal arts approach. Alexandra Robbins, an investigative journalist, addresses teacher burnout, emphasizing it's a symptom of systemic issues like low pay and overwhelming responsibilities rather than a shortage of dedicated educators. Both guests present insightful solutions for a better educational future.
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Civic Knowledge Gap In Schools
- Many students lack basic factual knowledge and reading fluency necessary for civic discussion.
- James Traub argues this stems from deprioritizing content in favor of general skills and testable reading/writing tasks.
History Has Become Polarized
- History curricula have polarized into competing national narratives that rewrite the past for present arguments.
- Traub shows both 1619 Project and 1776 Report politicize history and push teachers toward caution or avoidance.
Teachers Navigate Censorship By Staying Vague
- At a Florida social studies convention teachers described tactics to avoid controversy, like teaching 'vaguely' and sticking to approved texts.
- One teacher said restrictions meant she had to tell students to "find it on your own" when topics arose outside the curriculum.
