Expecting Civics to Do Work of History Disserves Nation

Expecting Civics to Do Work of History Disserves Nation

Many people who say they’re concerned about declining historical knowledge among young Americans say the answer is more civics education. They’re very right to be concerned, but wrong to conflate civics and history and wrong to expect civics to do the work of history education. It can’t. And be assured it won’t. The distinction between history and civics — opaque to many people with the best intentions — matters now, as we get down to work refor…