They say those who don’t know history are condemned to repeat it. If that’s true, American children could be in big trouble. History has perennially been a soft spot in American education, and the stats don’t seem to be getting much better. While more U.S. eighth-graders earned proficient marks on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test than they did in 2006 (the last year the test was given), that still only translates to 17 percent of students. About a fifth of fourth graders achieved proficiency status, and most didn’t know why Abraham Lincoln was a significant figure in American history. U.S. high school seniors were particularly pathetic at knowing their history. Only 12 percent earned proficient marks. Some blame the No Child Left Behind Act, which mandated schools get better at teaching math but no other subject. As such, many schools apparently are spending more time and effort in that one subject while giving others short shrift. “History is very much being shortchanged,” said Linda K. Salvucci, a history professor in San Antonio. (New York Times)