Do you know when Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue? A report, released on February 26, found that many American teens have no idea. The study tested 1,200 17-year-olds on their basic knowledge of U.S. history and literature. The students were asked 33 multiple-choice questions. They fared poorly overall, earning a D grade.
Lynne Munson heads the group that sponsored the study. She says the No Child Left Behind law, which emphasizes math and reading, leaves little room for other important subjects. "A high school graduate who lacks even the most basic grasp of America's story...is a child whose future has been limited by an incomplete education," she says.