JMU students should brush up on history

House Editorial

Judging from an informal survey done by The Breeze, students need to brush up on their history.

The Breeze asked 20 students five basic questions about our school’s namesake, James Madison, and while some people answered without missing a beat, more were thrown off by the pop quiz.

The questions asked for the name of James Madison’s famous Virginia estate, what number president he was, what famous document is he considered the father of, what the name of his wife was and during what war he was president. More than half of the answers received consistently were wrong.

Whether students never learned or simply have forgotten some of the basic history lessons of their youth, it is important that all citizens have a firm grasp of history, especially when attending a school that bears the name of one of the founding fathers.

James Madison was one of the more prominent members of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention during the American Revolution, and — even if one is not attending a school named after him. He is an important figure in American history.

Many students just roll their eyes and do the minimum requirements to pass their history classes before moving on to subjects they feel are more relevant. Memorizing dates centuries old and events their grandfathers don’t even remember doesn’t appeal to everyone. But the real importance of history isn’t contained in simple trivia about old, dead men.

As hackneyed as it sounds, the study of the past can help show where the future will lead. The same trends of economic and population pressure have motivated events for centuries and the ability to accurately interpret current events in this context can be valuable.

While such trends are not always the most engaging of topics, these trends and many social factors have been historically documented to effect things as diverse as fashion, politics, warfare, sports, art, literature, morals and music.

History defines who Americans are as a nation and a culture. Without a firm understanding of its importance, it is impossible to expect to fully understand current events and what the future is likely to hold.

James Madison’s life won’t reveal all the mysteries of the war in Iraq or current economic troubles, but it’s an excellent first piece in an elaborate, relevant puzzle.

And by the way, the answers were: Montpelier, fourth, the Constitution, Dolley and the War of 1812. More information about James Madison can be found on page 9 of this issue of The Breeze.