Lost II: Lost: A Common Cultural Knowledge

In a prior article, I suggested that there was a common bond of shared knowledge that, certainly in the past, facilitated discussions among people, provided a frame of reference, and allowed intelligent discourse. It would be impossible for the modern American to have a meaningful conversation and dialogue with his country-man of the 18^th or 19^th century.

I also proffered that, because of educational lapses and concepts and the failure of parents and grandparents to pass on the accumulated societal knowledge, young people today have lost much of that core. If this trend continues, I feel that it will be lost forever.

In an effort to test that thesis, I distributed a questionnaire to a number of persons in different parts of the United States. While the distribution did not meet the requirements of random surveys, I asked the persons conducting the interviews to pick respondents between 20 and 40 years of age. One group that was surveyed was a group of elementary school teachers. Because their interviews were held in the form of a group discussion, individual comments and answers were not available, but the composite answers are telling.

I am very indebted to my fellow Content Producer, Jeff Musall, who gathered many of the responses and provided much insight into the issues involved.

The following are the questions and a summary of the responses:

1. When did America declare independence from Great Britain?

Of the 120 persons asked, only 23 answered, "1776". Fourteen said that they did not know. Answers ranged from 1492 through 1884! The teachers fared little better. The majority said that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, but the year was not universally known.

2. Who was the British King at that time?

Of the ninety people asked this question, 37 knew the answer was George III. Two people responded with "Queen Elizabeth" and four, "Henry". None of the teachers knew the correct answer; their guesses were the same as the others, an almost even split between Elizabeth and Henry. Twenty people, in all, could not even hazard a guess!

3. Whom did the U.S. fight in World War II?

Most of the respondents named Germany, although sixteen people had no idea. A fewer number identified Japan as an adversary during World War II. Three people out of over 100 mentioned Italy. Several people named Russia as an adversary and two people thought we fought Vietnam, three named Korea. As was generally true, the older the person responding, the more likely the answer would be ay least partially correct. Generally, respondents under 30 were unaware of the countries involved in that war.

4. When did World War II end?

The consensus of opinion was "sometime in the 40's or 50's. Only 6 people, including the teachers of our children, answered 1945!

5. Who invented the telephone?

Almost everyone knew that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, although 17 people gave the credit to Thomas Edison. One person suggested George Washington Carver.

6. In which state is the national capital of the U.S.?

Only 16 people out of 100 answered, "D.C". Many others simply answered Washington and other guesses were Maryland, Virginia, and, one person suggested, California. The teachers, for the most part, answered correctly.

7. Where was President John F. Kennedy killed?

All but four people answered, "Texas"; a much smaller percentage knew that the city was Dallas.

8. Who was U.S. President during the Civil War?

Although seventeen people said they did not know, the others correctly named Abraham Lincoln.

9. Who is/was Tom Sawyer?

All of the teachers and nearly all others knew him to be a fictional character by Mark Twain. When asked as a follow-up to tell something that he did or a story about him, one person mentioned the incident about painting the fence. None of the others could expand on Tom's story. Two people said Tom was "Huck's friend".

10. In what year was the War of 1812 fought?

I felt that this was a question like, "Who is buried in Grant's tomb?" but amazingly, only seven people said they knew about any war in that year! Most people answered the question, "1812" even if they could not answer and follow-up questions; one person said, 1776".

11. What countries fought in that War?

This might have been a trick question, too, because 1812 is also the year of the French invasion of Russia, a major event, and the beginning of the end, in the Napoleonic -Russia War. No one mentioned that conflict, however, and only five people, including the teachers, were aware of the combatants in the War of 1812 in the United States, a war between the United States and Great Britain in which the White House was burned!

12. Where (or what) is New England?

Only 19 people could name the six states in the north-east corner of the United States and most lived in the Boston area. One soul suggested it was part of Europe.

13. How many stars are in the U.S. flag?

All but four knew there were 50 stars; two of the others said, "48".

14. How many stripes are in the U.S. flag?

Almost everyone knew there are 13 stripes although some guesses were as high as 45.

15. What are the capitols of Georgia, California, Illinois, Nevada and Maine.

People residing in the respective states knew their own state's capitol. Otherwise, the near universal (and incorrect) responses for California (Los Angeles or San Francisco), Illinois (Chicago) and Nevada (Las Vegas). One person suggested Des Moines as the capitol of Illinois.

16. Which is larger in area, Rhode Island or Vermont?

Twenty people said they did not know; all but six of the rest said, correctly, Rhode Island.

17. Explain the meaning or significance of

Remember Pearl Harbor

None of the respondents under 30 could explain the event that brought the U.S. into World War II! None of the younger group could identify the year, 1941. Three people answered that Vietnam had attacked the United States.

Remember the Maine

Only four people, out of 120, could identify the slogan about the sinking of the Maine in Havana harbor that stirred the public to become engaged in the Spanish-American War in the late nineteenth century. No one could expand on the role of Hearst and "yellow journalism" in stoking the flames.

Remember the Alamo

With the exception of people in Texas and the south-west, there was, generally, insufficient knowledge to identify the locale of the Alamo, the combatants in the battle or who won. (San Antonio, TX, the Republic of Mexico and Texan rebels fighting for independence in 1836, and the Mexicans, respectively.)

18. Who is/was Paul Bunyan?

Nearly everyone knew that Paul Bunyan was a folklore character

19. Paul Bunyan had a companion. What was one distinguishing attribute of that companion?

Again, all but nine persons, referred to Babe, the blue ox. Others mentioned his size and that he was a lumberjack.

20. Where is the Golden Gate Bridge?

All but nine persons said, "California"; 27 correctly said, San Francisco Bay. One person answered, New York.

21. Whose face, "launched a thousand ships"?

The teachers were able to arrive at a consensus response: Mona Lisa. None of the teachers suggested Helen of Troy and the others did no better.

22. In what country are the pyramids?

Twelve persons said they did not know, Most of the others correctly said, Egypt., although there were guesses of Mexico and Peru (all correct).

23. What was the name of the Lone Ranger's horse?

Again, all but eight persons correctly said, Silver", some added, "Hi-Yo" to the name! Three people answered, Trigger. Sorry, Roy.

24. Who was the Lone Ranger's companion?

All but 26 knew of Tonto, but dome could only identify him as an Indian.

25. What was the name of that person's horse?

Only seven people knew, "Scout".

26. Who is/was Ichabod Crane?

Here the teachers excelled. All knew of Crane. Among the non-teachers, however, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the Headless Horseman brought blank expressions. Two people thought it was a "Scooby Do" cartoon character!

27. What is/was his occupation?

All of the teachers knew that Crane was a teacher. As to the others, however, see # 26. Other answers included cobbler and cook.

28. Where does/did he live?

See # 26 and 27. The teachers knew of Sleepy Hollow - but even they did not know that Sleepy Hollow was and is a real village in Westchester county, New York.

29. Who is/was Rip Van Winkle?

Almost universal answer: he fell asleep for 20 years.

30. Who was Vice President of the U.S. when John Kennedy was President?

After some thought, most had this one right, Lyndon Johnson, except for a handful who thought it was Dan Quayle, George Bush or Bill Clinton.

31. Who is the current Vice President of the U.S.?

All but 12 people knew that Dick Chaney was Vice-President. Most of the others simply did not know.

What are the conclusions to be drawn and what can be done to restore the common core of universal knowledge?

The point must be made that I was not trying to merely show unfamiliarity on the part of many people with relatively recent history and cultural references. It is evident, from my limited survey and personal experience, that many younger adults are unable to discuss that which was knowledge "back in the day".

Some suggestions:

Stop focusing all education on test performance, allow education to stray beyond the required curriculum;

Encourage limitless inquiries by students into whatever topic stirs interest. (A personal note: I find difficulty in focusing when conducting research on the internet. Each time I come across a nugget of information, I am too inclined to follow that thread to wherever it leads. Firefox and IE7, with their multiple "tabs" allow and even encourage the digressions.) Young people should be encouraged to explore.

Affirmatively teach, in the public schools, the history of the world's religions. A recent poll of the U.S. population, as a whole, indicated that 50% of high school seniors believe Sodom and Gomorrah were married, 17% believe Ramadan is the Jewish Day of Atonement, and a majority of people believe St. Paul led the Jews out of Egypt! Not only has it not been forbidden by the Courts, teaching religion, without proselytizing, has been encouraged. Teaching the history and core beliefs of the world's faith does not mean praying in school and may improve understanding of peoples whose faith and values are based on other than Judeo-Christian concepts. Moreover, many political arguments are framed in Biblical terms, as abortion, homosexuality. Knowing Biblical references will help decipher the arguments. Go back to basics and teach American, world and ancient history, Greek and Roman mythology. Lose the classes on self-esteem and pop culture.

Parents and Grandparents, engage your children and grandchildren in conversation, going beyond the current faze of Paris and Britney. I grew up in a household where my father would start a discussion on politics, religion or ethics taking one point of view; I argued for the opposite. Then, after a while, we changed sides!

The readers and contributors of AC have, I am certain, ideas and suggestions of their own? How about offering these for discussion?