What Next | Daily News and Analysis What Kids Aren't Learning About US History
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Dec 1, 2025 Clint Smith, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of *How the Word Is Passed*, joins to discuss the complexities of teaching U.S. history. He highlights the importance of confronting America’s past, including slavery and systemic oppression, to understand the present. Clint reflects on how personal narratives often overshadow historical facts and how these lessons can empower students to see societal change as possible. He also shares insights from international memorial practices and the challenges of reckoning with a troubled national memory.
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Teaching Hard Histories To Teens
- Clint Smith taught high school English and guided students through first-person accounts of atrocity and oppression.
- He found the work invigorating but emotionally difficult because the material was dark and personal.
History Clears The Fog
- Studying difficult history replaces foggy understanding with a solid object you can hold and examine.
- Clint Smith says confronting hard history clarifies your place in society and relationships to others.
Go Where The Lessons Are Banned
- Clint intentionally visited Southern schools where his book faced bans to speak directly to students and teachers.
- He encouraged teachers to continue honest teaching despite legal and job fears.
