Some of you may have missed Wilfred M. McClay's article in the Autumn issue
of the Wilson Quarterly (pp.99-106), "History for a Democracy," in which he
cites a disturbing study of graduating seniors at the best universities in
America. It showed 81 percent could not pass a simple test on American
history -- not to mention World History -- including the basic concept of
separation of powers. No wonder; less than 25 percent of the schools
required any history course at all.

Professor McClay, holder of the Sun Trust Chair of Humanities at UTC, will
consider some of the issues in his article Tuesday, February 12, at 3:00
P.M. in the Signal Mountain Room of the University Center as he speaks on
"The Perils and Pleasures of Writing an Un-Textbook (Student Guide to U.S.
History)."

All those concerned about the rise of ahistorical culture in postwar
America  are invited to attend.

Richard Rice
Department of History