Close Reading -- Dec 16th

In Ignorance We Trust
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/egan-in-ignorance-we-trust/?src=me&ref=general

If history is not going to be taught in schools, it's not going to be learned.  If history is not learned from, this downward cycle our country is in is just going to continue.  Timothy Egan in "In Ignorance We Trust", which focuses on history's popular decline persuades the reader to reconsider looking at history as just an antiquated subject, but instead as a relevant topic using solid diction, relevant details, and realistic imagery.

Egan believes that history in schools is overlooked because the math and sciences are given too much glory and importance, and he makes that very clear.  There is no question what Egan is trying to get at when he calls Florida's government "knuckleheaded", implying that their lack of support towards history education is due to stubbornness and stupidity.  State regulated history books are "jargon-weighted" with political correctness, which implies that they are filled with vague, confusing facts that aren't even factual.  "Paranoid writings" written by politicians implies that historical truth is no longer available, and any politician who wants to be re-elected is afraid to write the truth, giving us a flawed history.  

The details Egan includes provide evidence towards history's decline.  He starts out his article by including lines from letters he received from high school students who don't like hearing about history or learning about it.  By beginning with a personal story, the reader immediately understands that this is an issue that is both real and close to his heart.  Egan is not afraid to call out specific people who would oppose what he is saying, like Florida Governor Rick Scott.  This again gives his article relevance and by shutting down the opposition he strengthens his point. 

In order for the reader to fully understand what he is trying to say, Egan uses descriptive language so that the reader can paint an image in their mind.  In his article he talks about a point that one of his colleagues made.  He introduces him as "David McCullough, the snowy-headed author and occasional national scold..." This brings up the image of an old, wise man.  And who doesn't respect the opinion of an old wise man?  This image that Egan has created is not something the reader wants to argue with.  In describing how teenagers view writers of history he says, "well, there’s a special place with the already-chewed gum in nerd camp for them."  This brings up the image most kids have in their mind about history and how un-cool it is.  Already chewed gum?  Nerd camp everyone makes fun of?  That is not an image the reader is likely to forget.

Overall, Egan makes his point.  While his article failed to say how an issue like this could be solved, it brings up the issue nicely.  Relevant word choice, details, and lasting images is what history texts should be full of, as his "In Ignorance We Trust" is.