History education in schools is so poor that students often enter college ignorant of the past - and leave just as unenlightened.
Max BootRead
There is little doubt that our society is changing rapidly, but one thing will never change as long as we remain a democracy: the need for voters to know the essentials of our history and government.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Voters must be informed about history and government as society evolves.
Max Boot's quote emphasizes the importance of historical and governmental knowledge for voters in a democratic society, highlighting that while societal changes are constant, the foundational knowledge necessary for effective participation in democracy remains essential. This understanding is crucial for making informed decisions and maintaining the integrity of democratic processes.
Themes
DemocracyVotersHistoryGovernmentEducation
In practice
Example use cases
During a civic engagement workshop, this quote could be used to stress the importance of understanding political history.
More from Max Boot
All quotes →We have a long, ugly history of white supremacy in this country, ranging from Jim Crow laws to keep African Americans down to the 1924 Immigration Act to keep non-Europeans out.
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Freedom will not prevail because of historical forces; it will only win, if it does, because of historical actors. In other words, us. Those like me who came of age around 1989 used to take democracy for granted.
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