Eighty-four percent (84%) of voters say public schools should teach the "truth about slavery."
That's according to a national survey by Scott Rasmussen.
The survey also found that 81% say public schools should teach that America was founded on the ideals of freedom, equality, and self-governance.
These numbers combined show that 72% of voters believe public schools should be teaching both ideals and concepts to students.
Yet another question specifically asking whether schools should teach that America was founded on racism, slavery, and white supremacy illustrated voters were almost evenly split: 42% agreed that schools should teach that America was founded on racism, slavery and white supremacy, and 44% disagreed.
Overall, when breaking down the initial question, the survey found the following:
- Forty percent (40%) say students should be taught that America was founded on noble ideals; not that the nation was founded on racism.
- Thirty percent (30%) believe that the founding ideas behind slavery and freedom should be taught.
- Eleven percent (11%) say that the noble ideals should be taught, and are not sure about racism.
- Nine percent (9%) believe schools should teach that the nation was founded on racism; not that it was founded upon noble ideals.
Additionally, 64% said schools should teach that America is a force for good in the world, while 15 % disagreed, and 21% of voters were unsure.
To read full Scott Rasmussen survey results, click here.
We definitely should teach the slavery that was in effect before, during and after the founding of the nation but racism is hard to explain in the context of the time.
Many who held slaves did not mistreat them the way the book ROOTS described the inhumane way some were treated. This is not to condone slavery of the past, but it must be put into proper context.
The nation was NOT founded on slavery but slavery did exist at the time and many of the founding fathers were abolitionists while others who held slaves realized that it would be something the country would have to deal with in the future but at the time Independence was the priority. Jefferson, Washington, Madison and Monroe; all slave holders knew this as did many others.
I am skeptical of the public school system teaching anything objectively.
Slavery is a part of world history and started long before the founding of America.
Slavery still exists.
Let's start with " Reading, Writing, Arithmetic" and see how that goes...