By Lilian H. Hill
You may remember studying history in school with distaste because of an emphasis on remembering wars, names, and dates, but with little attention given to why things occurred, what they mean, and how the past influences life today. Unfortunately, school curricula often focused on memorization leading to students’ boredom and disinterest. In 2019, the Woodrow Wilson Foundation published results of a nationwide study that indicated that only 40% of American citizens can pass a multiple-choice test based on 20 history questions from the U.S. citizenship test (Gewertz, 2019). The study's authors concluded that excessive reliance on passive methods, such as textbooks and lectures that focus on memorizing facts, dates, and places, accounts for students' poor understanding of history. History instruction needs to become more relevant and engaging to address this issue, incorporating interactive teaching methods and emphasizing deep comprehension (Lewer, 2019).
Historical Literacy
Historical knowledge provides a lens with which to interpret current events and detect false narratives and intentional distortions present in many forms of media. Historical literacy is essential for informed citizenship, cultural understanding, and democratic values. It empowers individuals to participate meaningfully in democratic societies, make informed decisions, and contribute to the ongoing dialogue about the human experience across time. Individuals can contribute to a more just, equitable, and interconnected world by engaging with history critically and empathetically.
Historical literacy is understanding, interpreting, and critically analyzing historical events, concepts, and contexts. It encompasses factual knowledge about past events and the skills to analyze primary and secondary sources, recognize historical patterns and trends, evaluate differing perspectives, and draw informed conclusions about the significance and impact of historical events on societies and individuals. Brick (2021), historian and professor at George Washington University, defined historical literacy as the ability to assess evidence and evaluate arguments, to consider various viewpoints and determine their accuracy, to interpret current events in the context of historical ones, and to identify the connections linking patterns over time. With the internet, almost everyone has access to even the most obscure historical facts. Historians are not necessary for this information; instead, it is more important to cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish credible narratives from false ones.
Historical Research
Historical literacy encompasses skills related to historical research and inquiry, such as formulating research questions, conducting archival research, and synthesizing information from multiple sources. These skills enable individuals to actively engage with historical scholarship and contribute to studying and interpreting history. Historians confront the intricacies of the past by grappling with essential questions like “How do we know about the past?” “What was life like then?” and “Why is it important to remember it?” Lévesque (2013) suggests researching history requires seeking answers to questions such as:
· Why is it important to study history?
· How does learning about history influence our self-identity?
· How does historical knowledge build empathy?
· How does knowledge of history shape understandings of the present?
These inquiries engage historians in a research process focused on investigating past events and creating evidence-based narratives. This dynamic and ongoing disciplinary endeavor is open to debate and revision (Lévesque, 2013). Historians extensively use a range of primary sources, meaning first-hand accounts of a topic or event created by people who had a direct experience of it. The results allow for a detailed examination of identifiable trends and societal relationships contributing to modern understanding of historical events. Historical literacy involves identifying themes, patterns, and trends across different historical periods and drawing connections between past events and contemporary issues.
Components of Historical Literacy
Most people will not become historical researchers, however, some knowledge of how history is constructed is required for informed citizenship, as it enables individuals to understand the complexities of the past, appreciate diverse perspectives, and critically evaluate contemporary issues in their historical context. There are several components of historical literacy:
Factual Knowledge: Historical literacy involves possessing a foundational understanding of key historical events, figures, dates, and movements. This includes knowledge of major events such as wars, revolutions, social movements, and significant cultural developments. Beyond a simple recounting of events, historians search for contextual understanding.
Contextual Understanding: Historical literacy involves understanding the context in which historical events occurred, including the political, social, economic, and cultural factors that influenced them. It requires recognizing the interconnectedness of historical events and their broader significance within a particular time-period or geographical region.
Critical Thinking: Historical literacy requires the ability to think critically about historical information. This involves questioning sources, considering biases, and evaluating the reliability and credibility of historical accounts. Critical thinking skills enable individuals to analyze historical evidence and arguments and form reasoned interpretations. For example, our changing perspectives about indigenous groups, minorities, and women and recognition of their contributions is a result of critical thinking.
Multiple Perspectives: Historical literacy involves considering multiple perspectives and viewpoints on historical events and phenomena. It requires understanding that historical narratives can vary depending on factors such as cultural background, ideology, and personal experience. Engaging with diverse perspectives enriches historical understanding and promotes empathy and tolerance. An example is the continual debate over what the U.S. “founding fathers” intended and whether we should adhere strictly to their intentions, informed by varied interpretations of those intentions.
Effective Communication: Historical literacy involves the ability to communicate historical knowledge and interpretations effectively, both orally and in writing. This includes constructing coherent arguments, supporting claims with evidence, and engaging in respectful dialogue with others about historical topics.
In conclusion, historical literacy is vital for developing well-rounded, informed, and engaged individuals capable of contributing thoughtfully to society.
References
Brick, C. (2021, May 28). From Jan. 6 to Rick Santorum's firing, America's historical illiteracy is on display. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/05/28/teaching-american-history-matter-life-and-death-democracy/7435
Gewertz, C. (2019, May 7). History Instruction Indicted: Too Much Memorization, Too Little Meaning. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/history-instruction-indicted-too-much-memorization-too-little-meaning/2019/05
Lévesque, S., (2013, February 19). What Does it Mean to Be "Historically Literate"? The History of Education Network. https://thenhier.ca/en/content/what-does-it-mean-be-historically-literate.html
Lewer, B. (2019). Reimagining American History Education. The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. https://woodrow.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/WW-Reimagining-American-History-Education.pdf
