History is not just a record of the past; it’s a guide to the future. The lessons taught to our children will shape the future of the country. On January 29th, 2025, Donald Trump passed Executive Order 14190: Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling. Among the initiatives prioritized in this order is a mandate to teach a “patriotic education,” and the banning of framing the US as a “fundamentally racist, sexist” nation. This order threatens to turn history classes into nationalistic propaganda, picking and choosing the parts of history that fit a “Pro-America” agenda. As much as devotion to your country is important, it is impossible to be an upstanding citizen without understanding American history. When students recognize our nation’s flaws, they can learn from the mistakes of the past to create a better future. It is inherently undemocratic to shape students’ education to fit a narrative rather than depicting the full truth.
The executive order in question seeks to reestablish the 1776 Report and promote a curriculum that presents America in an overwhelmingly positive light. The 1776 Report was originally created in 2020 at the end of Trump’s first term in an effort to rebuke the 1619 project and reject teachings on systemic racism. The project was produced hastily in just a month without the consultation of any professional historians. According to the executive order, "patriotic education" should highlight the country’s founding principles and progress while avoiding narratives that suggest systemic racism or sexism played a foundational role in American history. The US was built on slavery; racist practices were used to justify the slave trade, and denying these facts in history classes is nothing short of propaganda. The American History Association alongside 47 other organizations has condemned the 1776 Report for presenting an oversimplified and misleading version of history that includes inaccuracies, omissions, and distortions of the truth.
The push for a sanitized historical narrative is not new. Historically, American textbooks, especially in southern schools, have largely omitted the brutality of Jim Crow laws and the forced displacement of Native Americans. In the south during the aftermath of the Civil War, there was a large push to rewrite history in an effort not to tarnish the southern reputation. The “United Daughters of the Confederacy” were crucial in removing all southern textbooks that taught about slavery and the confederacy critically. Over 100 years later, many American history courses still do not adequately cover past injustices committed against marginalized communities, instead many states are making efforts to further restrict teachings of historical racism. Tennessee Senate Bill No. 623 was passed in 2021 and states public schools cannot teach that individuals are privileged on the basis of race or sex or that the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist. Iowa Senate File 282 was introduced in February 2025 and is currently pending in the state senate education committee. It removes any DEI or Critical Race Theory requirements in schools, which is defined as education involving systemic racism, institutional racism, anti-racism, microaggressions, systemic bias, implicit bias, social justice, diversity, and more. There are consequences to covering up parts of history. When students are not taught about redlining, they struggle to understand current racial wealth disparities. When they aren’t exposed to the entire story of the civil rights movement, they are more susceptible to believing that racial injustice is no longer a concern. Historical education is not about dwelling on guilt; it is about equipping future generations with the knowledge to build a more just society.
History provides context for societal change, helping individuals learn from past experiences to navigate present challenges. While history alone cannot create good citizens, it is crucial for making informed political decisions and understanding national identity. Recognizing America’s mistakes does not mean rejecting patriotism. Instead, a true patriot knows the history of their country and the mistakes that have been made. The civil rights movement and the advancement of women’s rights both stemmed from challenging injustice. If we erase these struggles from our education system, we rob students of an essential understanding of how change happens.
Cornell University relies on students arriving with a foundational understanding of history that is both accurate and comprehensive. When history is distorted at the K-12 level, students enter college without the necessary tools to think critically about the past and its implications for the present.
This executive order may seem like it is “Pro-America,” but really it stands against education, freedom, and growth, foundational American ideals that are fundamental to our country. True patriotism is not about pretending America is flawless; it is about striving to live up to the ideals of liberty and justice for all. The best way to honor the country is to ensure that our children learn the full truth – so they can help foster a better future.
