The education system has really let us down. Today in history class, our teacher gave us a pre-test on World War II to gauge what we already knew. After we completed it, we reviewed the answers together. One of the questions asked for the only significant U.S. ship to survive the attack on Pearl Harbor. I couldn’t remember the name, but then one student boldly declared, “Titanic.”
There was complete silence—no laughter, no smiles—just an awkward five-minute stare down as the entire class processed the moment. The teacher, realizing the gravity of the situation, remarked that five years of the student’s life had just slipped away. When he asked if anyone else had given the same answer, a quarter of the class raised their hands. At that point, the teacher just walked out. It was disheartening, and I’ve completely lost faith in the school system.
It’s frustrating to see such a lack of basic historical knowledge, especially when it comes to significant events like Pearl Harbor. It sounds like a moment that really highlights how important it is to engage students and encourage critical thinking. It’s understandable to feel disheartened, but maybe this can also serve as a wake-up call for both students and teachers to address gaps in knowledge and find new ways to make learning more engaging. It’s crucial for schools to foster a genuine interest in history so that moments like these can be learning opportunities rather than sources of discouragement.