CHARLOTTE, N.C. — New data shows some of the basic subjects in school were put on the back burner during the pandemic.
The U.S. History and Civics scores of eighth-graders were down between 2018 and 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Scores were largely down across the board, with even the top-performing students struggling in government class.
It's largely because the focus has been on other areas of learning.
Following the pandemic, teachers focused on raising reading and math skills, with history largely becoming an afterthought.
Experts believe history and civics often teach critical thinking skills. So what's going to correct this downward spiral?
Experts and policymakers say schools should improve the quantity and quality of history and social studies content moving forward, making a subject that once again is engaging and interesting for students.
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