Just last week, I was speaking with a neighbor of mine – an avidlover of history and the owner of an important historic house – abouthow often we hear the words “history is boring” from young people.

History is NOT boring. How it’s TAUGHT is what’s usually boring!

It pains me every time I hear those words. It also pains me when I hearthe words, “I really wish I had had a good history teacher” from adultfriends of mine (or from people who come to my history talks or take my
walking tours). “I might have been interested in history a lot sooner,”they say.

No kidding! And this is so infuriating. What a waste.

Now I am not here to beat up on history teachers. There are gifted onesout there, some of whom I know personally, and many of them have theirhands tied “teaching to the test.”

Still, something must be done because the state of history education inAmerica today is appalling.

History inside of the classroom
In his speech before the National Book Foundation upon receiving theDistinguished Contribution to American Letters Award, the PulitzerPrize-winning author David McCullough – a personal hero of mine –stated:

“We, in our time, are raising a new generation of Americans who, to analarming degree, are historically illiterate. The situation is seriousand sad. And it is quite real, let there be no mistake. It has beencoming on for a long time, like a creeping disease, eating away at thenational memory. While the clamorous popular culture races on, theAmerican past is slipping away, out of site and out of mind. We arelosing our story, forgetting who we are and what it's taken to come thisfar.”

He went on to say:

“Too many teachers have little if any real understanding of what they'reteaching, let alone that vitality and passion for the subject thatmakes a great teacher so effective. If you think back to your own timein school, the courses you liked best and did best in were almostcertainly the courses taught by the teachers you liked best. And theteachers you liked best were almost certainly those who were excitedabout the material and conveyed that excitement to you.”

And so, what are we to do?

History outside of the classroom
David McCullough is 100% right that better teacher training isessential, but I also want to look OUTSIDE of the classroom because sooften THAT’S where people connect. Today, we call this “public history,”and here are just five examples of things you can do to SUPPLEMENT yourchild’s classroom education -- and your own.

• Visit historic sites that “do history” well
Think about the Minuteman National Historical Park in Concord, MA at theNorth Bridge. Every day, there are reenactors, tours, story tellers,musket demonstrations – you name it! Boring? Hardly!

• Find historical theatrical performances
In Salem, MA, the Department of Theatre at Gordon College presents atheatrical performance at Salem in 1630: Pioneer Village, a replicacolonial village along the lines of the more famous Plimoth Plantation.Visitors are entranced by these beautifully costumed actors acting outdomestic scenes, playing children’s games, and putting a villager in“the stocks.”

• Seek out the story tellers
As the historian Barbara Tuchman says, if you want to get kidsinterested in history, “tell stories.” You can often find these peopleat public libraries or historical societies. Perhaps an elder in yourcommunity is giving a talk on growing up in your town.

• Go on walking tours
Find a passionate walking tour guide and let the fun begin! History is“real” when you’re on the ground and out of the books.

• Visit historical museums that know how to engage visitors
Dragging your child through a “boring” museum will not help matters.Instead, find the places that do this well. The Salem Witch Museum, forexample, is the most visited museum in Salem and constantly ranks at thetop in the state and the region. Why? Because they tell the story in anengaging – yet responsible – way.

• Attend demonstrations and reenactments
Historic houses and museums will often present demonstrations of earlytrades and skills, weaponry, or hearth cooking. Military encampments arealso great fun, and with the anniversary of the Civil War in full swingthey shouldn’t be hard to find.

Opportunities for business
And for you business owners out there, “out of the classroom”experiences like these provide you with the opportunity to be a localhero and attract customers. Seek out the talented public historyteachers and projects and find ways to support them, work with them, orpromote them. You will be promoting yourself at the same time -- in anon-sales environment and through good works.

Why is it important to engage your kids – and yourself – in history? Toquote David McCullough again:

“Indifference to history isn't just ignorant, it's rude. It's a form ofingratitude. I'm convinced that history encourages, as nothing elsedoes, a sense of proportion about life, gives us a sense of the relativescale of our own brief time on earth and how valuable that is.

What history teaches it teaches mainly by example. It inspires courageand tolerance. It encourages a sense of humor. It is an aid tonavigation in perilous times. We are living now in an era of momentouschange, of huge transitions in all aspects of life-here, nationwide,worldwide-and this creates great pressures and tensions. But history
shows that times of change are the times when we are most likely tolearn. This nation was founded on change. We should embrace thepossibilities in these exciting times and hold to a steady course,because we have a sense of navigation, a sense of what we've beenthrough in times past and who we are.”

Amen, David McCullough!

What about you?
And so, what are your plans for this weekend? What history projects canyour business support? They are out there!