OPINION:
How many people can say their fifth grade class trip helped launch them on their path in life? I can.
I came to Washington with my fellow safety patrol members from Rocky Ridge Elementary in Birmingham, Alabama. We visited museums, monuments and statues, saw the Supreme Court, and posed for a picture on the Capitol lawn. That framed photograph hangs behind my office desk today.
When we visited the White House, I remember having the same sense of awe and an extraordinary sense of legacy that I still have today when I’m in the White House, along with a sense of wonder at how one building could become a symbol to the world of freedom and democracy.
That visit sparked my interest in American history, and there was no turning back. Today, I’m proud to lead the White House Historical Association, founded in 1961, to help tell the story of the White House to Americans and the world.
Now, just two years shy of America’s 250th birthday, we are facing a crisis of civics and history education. The 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (dubbed “the Nation’s Report Card”) showed that only 22% of eighth graders are proficient in civics and 13% in U.S. history.
Failing to understand our history is dangerous for our country. For Americans to have a bright future, we need the next generations — and everyone — to better grasp the lessons of our Founders and the presidents who have served our country.
That vision means providing students with a critical core of historical knowledge, a thorough understanding of the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, and the skills of respectful discussion and debate needed to contribute to their communities.
It must also include the legacies of our presidents and their role in the democratic experiment that shook the world almost 250 years ago. Understanding the history of our White House and why it was long ago dubbed “the People’s House” is key to understanding our country’s uniqueness.
The White House Historical Association works to bring that history alive and keep it relevant in the 21st century. Our White House 360 Virtual Tour lets anyone use their computer or phone to walk through the halls that presidents have walked through and see architecture, furnishings, and portraits from two centuries of American history. Educational materials teach the stories and legacy behind the images.
For educators, the White House History Teacher Institute and the association’s digital library offer ready-to-use education materials for grades K-12, research tools for students and National History Day project materials. We publish student-friendly videos and a dozen illustrated children’s books that teach children about White House history.
In September, just a block from the White House, we’ll launch “The People’s House: A White House Experience” — a three-floor, 33,000-square-foot collection of cutting-edge exhibits, galleries and education spaces that will bring the story of the White House to life. Visitors will be able to walk through replicas of the Oval Office, Cabinet Room, State Dining Room and even the Rose Garden. They will learn about presidential history and the stories of the families and workers who care for the White House and keep it functioning.
We are excited for people to see the White House Historical Association People’s House and to learn from all that we have to offer. But if we are going to succeed, organizations, communities and leaders across the country must make it a priority to pass our country’s history on to the generations who will lead us. Partnerships and collaborations with other organizations such as iCivics and presidential libraries and sites nationwide will help turn around the steep decline in historical literacy in the United States of America.
The stakes are high. If we want a country where any child can be president, then every child must understand the presidency and how central its history is to America’s experience and achievements. Not every fifth grader can visit the White House, but its history can reach every student through our work and the impact of our mission-focused partners.
• Stewart McLaurin is president of the White House Historical Association.
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