Professor raises awareness, boosts spirit of American history
October 21, 2005
While the American casualty count steadily increases to 2,000 and U.S. troops face another winter in Iraq, roughly 85 percent of American students cannot locate the country on a map, according to a 2002 National Geographic-Roper survey.
History professor J.D. Bowers, however, has dedicated himself to changing these statistics by working alongside area schools.
As the historian-in-residence for the “Challenge of Freedom” project, Bowers’ goal is to revitalize the spirit of American history and understanding of government affairs. Bowers also hopes to raise student awareness and improve the level of teacher instruction of American history in elementary through high-school levels.
“The real design of this project is to expose teachers to the best and most available content of this country,” Bowers said. “We’re exposing teachers to more information they want and they need to teach and it will get passed on to the students.”
A $1 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education will allow school districts to provide history teachers with workshops, seminars and graduate classes.
David Kyvig, a research and history professor, said it is difficult to receive grants from the government.
“The federal Teaching American History grants they are involved in have been awarded in a very selective national competition and testify to the high regard in which Bowers and NIU faculty are held by the Federal Department of Education,” Kyvig said.
About 100 of these grants are awarded throughout the country each year, Kyvig said.
Bowers, who has taught history since 1997 across North and South America, was a main component in the organization of the project’s federal funding.
“I have read proposals in the past and went to Washington to help make decisions on who would be awarded these [grants], so I have a pretty good insight on these grants and which ones will do better then others,” he said.
Despite Bowers’ belief that American students must be better versed in current affairs and historical documents, he does not believe American students are unprepared for college history classes. He has emphasized the low level of importance social studies has with the younger generations.
“I think students know the basic historical facts, but I think they have to care about the government before they can raise their level of understanding,” said Andi Teter, a freshman political science major.
Most people do not start paying attention to the world beyond their immediate experience until their teenage years, Kyvig said. Therefore, students do not have much direct historical experience to build on.
Junior journalism major Blaise Sewell, however, said he does not feel young Americans have a viable excuse for a lack of historical knowledge.
“Ask them to name all the ‘Friends’ characters and it’s another story,” Sewell said.