What Do Our 17-Year-Olds Know: A Report on the First National Assessment of History and Literature
This addresses some of the same issues as Allan Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind ( LJ 5/1/87) and E. D. Hirsch, Jr.'s Cultural Literacy ( LJ 6/1/87), but with less crankiness. All three books agree that history and literature need to be re-emphasized in curriculums. The present work focuses on 11th grade youngsters and the results of the first national test of students' knowledge of history and literature, funded by the NEH. It goes behind the scores to identify factors in higher achievement, and includes recommendations for teaching. A thoughtful, objective work by two distinguished authors. Recommended. Annette V. Janes, Director Hamilton P.L., Mass.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.