Teach Kids History to Honor George Washington

February 22 marks the 282nd anniversary of the beginning of a remarkable life - the birth of a man who himself gave life to a new era in world history.

As commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and later as the first president of the United States, George Washington, more than any other single person, created the nation we love today. He was, as one historian termed him, the indispensable man.

First as an officer in the Virginia militia, then as a member of the House of Burgesses, as a delegate to the Continental Congresses, as the key figure of the Revolution, as president of the Constitutional Convention, and finally as President of the United States, Washington was the consummate citizen. He devoted his life to serving America, even before it was an independent country.

Often this dedication came at great personal sacrifice. During the American Revolution, Washington was away from his home, Mount Vernon, for eight difficult years. Many times, the cause surely seemed lost - an outcome which would likely have led to his imprisonment or even hanging. It's easy to forget that Washington and other leaders of the Revolution risked everything, including life, family, and fortune, to win our independence.

Why did he do it? The answer can be found in our Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” it read in part, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

These were the bold ideas for which Washington and other Patriots fought, and they are the principles that continue to define our nation. They are at the heart of what has made America exceptional.

The debt we owe to George Washington is incalculable. Without him, the Revolution might never have been won, and democracy might never have prevailed. And like the debt we owe to the millions of others who have sacrificed to protect our freedom throughout our history, it is one we can never repay.

We can, however, make sure we do not forget what he fought for, and we can continue to preserve the ideas he risked everything to defend.

Unfortunately, we are currently doing a poor job of passing on the lessons of this sacrifice to the next generation of Americans. Today, young people are simply not learning American history.

The Department of Education’s recent National Assessment of Educational Progress survey shows how fundamental this problem is. Just 20 percent of fourth-graders, 17 percent of eighth-graders and 12 percent of 12th-graders are at grade-level proficiency in American history.

Our students’ lack of knowledge goes to the very basics. Only one in three fourth-graders can identify the purpose of the Declaration of Independence. Less than half understand why George Washington was an important leader in American history. And most fourth-graders don’t know why the Pilgrims left England.

It’s clear that we have not done the hard work of helping the next generation understand our history and the great privilege of being American. 

Those of us who understand the importance of our country’s past are the key to curing this historic amnesia. We must find better ways of telling the American story.

Children’s books can be a good way to introduce young people to American history. As the author of three children’s history books, I have visited classrooms across the country to share the adventures of Ellis the Elephant, my time traveling pachyderm, with 4- to 8-year-olds. Most young people I meet are eager to learn and are excited to discover our nation’s pivotal moments. 

Interactive online courses, television programs like Liberty’s Kids, and educational video games like Oregon Trail can also teach critical history lessons. Visits to historic sites like Independence Hall in Philadelphia and, of course, George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon are wonderful ways to inspire a love for American history.

This week, take the opportunity to help young Americans in your life understand why George Washington is rightly remembered as the father of our country.