Remembering Abraham Lincoln

/ J. F. Riordan

Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. It bothers me that we have lumped Lincoln’s and Washington’s birthday’s into one generic Presidents’ Day. They were not generic men; each in their particular ways were fathers of new eras in the American experiment. It bothers me still further, that at a recent trip to an elementary school, even the third graders didn’t know who Lincoln was, or recognize that distinctive profile. It’s a subject simple enough for kindergarteners, but we seem to assume that children are incapable of learning things these days.

As a former teacher—and lifelong admirer of President Lincoln—I consider the abandonment of history a disgrace to our schools. Not to mention the abandonment of grammar, literature, and civics and…just reading. If you don’t believe me, look at the statistics. I’ll wait.

Children are sponges. They love knowing things, and their brains are programmed to memorize facts. It’s what human beings are meant to do. The education establishment dismisses memorization as mere rote learning—as if memorizing is somehow wrong. But I see memorization both as a gift and as the proper preparation for thinking. And at any rate, it would be a nice start.

I saw this close-up and personally when I was helping my grandson with his algebra this fall. How do you factor if you haven’t (in second grade) memorized the multiplication tables? It’s a form of rote learning that forms the facility for all the mathematics that follows.

Literature, too, is aided by youthful memorization. Children may not be ready to grasp the depths of meaning or the literary allusions in a memorized poem. But they internalize everything. Once memorized, the poem belongs to them in their own personal library to be recalled at will, or to arise unbidden at an apposite moment. And because it is theirs, their understanding gradually develops as they mature. They internalize the rhythms, too, and those old lines roll up like waves in the unconscious, building a sense for the language and its music. These things form good writers and appreciative readers, and create a common cultural underpinning that bonds us as human beings.

And history—that rhythm of ascent and failure that we repeat as civilizations and as individuals—begins with facts. Who did that? When was that? What happened first? What happened next? It’s only armed with these facts that we can form any opinions of what we think. You can’t think about history without knowing its essential details. And if we don’t know essential details, what do we have to remember?

The millennia-old tradition of education was that children go to grammar school to memorize—history, grammar, languages, literature, scientific and mathematical facts—until the age of twelve. At twelve, having reached the age of reason, they begin their true education. But that education is based upon the foundation of everything built before.

On this day in 1809, a great man of American history was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. He was a poor farmer’s son, and his life grew terribly hard when his beloved mother, Nancy Hanks, died at age 34 of poisoned milk. But his step-mother, the determined Sarah, encouraged him to read, and insisted that he educate himself. And read he did—whatever he could find—after a grueling day of manual labor, by the fire light. His speeches and letters reflect how deeply he internalized the great literature of his time, how influenced he was by the Psalms, by Shakespeare, by Milton, by the ancient Greeks. He walked miles to borrow—and return—books. He read widely and deeply, and he memorized. Today, if we have any sense, we look back and honor him for his righteousness, his valor, his humanity, and his martyrdom to the cause of freedom. He was an honorable man, worthy of being honored.

I didn’t use a book to look this up this morning. I learned it in elementary school.

It makes me sad that so many Americans did not.

46 thoughts on “Remembering Abraham Lincoln”

  4. You often touch my heart (it’s why you start my day). You seldom make me sad or sadder. Today you make me weep.
    Thank you for another brilliant piece of heart-deep thought committed to paper and shared with us all.
    (Can we share it with others, with attribution?)
    We can ALL give great thanks for Abraham Lincoln! I am also thankful for you (and your husband) and all those who do see the perils of our times. Public education is among them.

    Liked by 2 people

  6. JF, I too remember what I memorized of literature and music and art and some basic math. Nothing much of advanced math or science but I have friends who remember those. What we remember is what we need to use. We can’t remember if we didn’t learn it. In my county, out school district has been taken over by far right evangelicals who have gotten rid of good teachers and superintendent and replaced it with those who will propagandize instead of teach. Students are being removed from the district by parents. But this is a vast problem. Part of today’s attack on democracy herself is because Civics is no longer taught! I do not know how to spread this message but it needs spreading!

    Do you think you will make it to Denver (Tattered Cover? Barnes and Noble?) with your newest book? (I’m about 90 miles away.) All the Best, Suzanne Core

    Liked by 2 people

  7. I feel like our educational system has been changed to more of a teach to pass a test than to teaching things that today’s students will be able to use in life once they graduate. Its a shame and I don’t know how to change this. I think too often politics has invaded school boards (just saw a story on this about the Neenah school board candidates this morning) and instead of teaching students life skills we are limiting what they can learn because it might offend particular political beliefs.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. I couldn’t put it better myself. While a good foundation of memorized things does not guarantee a well-rounded education that doesn’t stop once the formal portion ends, a rotten foundation of virtually nothing memorized all-but-guarantees lifelong rot that extends far beyond the individual.

    As for the generic Presidents’ Day, do we really want to put, say, Millard Fillmore, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton in the same realm as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln?

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Do you know (I think you must suspect!) that your words, your writing, even in the diary form such as a blog, affect readers in the same ways philosophers and the intelligentsia affected those who educated every generation? I think of you as a distant aunt, marvelous and slightly intimidating, but someone who I very much aspire to be. There is a proverb: “as the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” We bend and twist and wind, and far too often do so all unthinking and unknowing.

    Education isn’t in the instruction alone, of course. It is in guiding listeners along a path. I’ve been most influenced by a writer named Neil Peart, who also happened to be the world’s best (or at least top 3) drummer in a rock band. By putting his philosophy and teaching into the music of the band, it became embedded in my neural paths. And honestly, listening to music on the radio just makes me cringe and appreciate his artistry even more. It’s the difference between juice and brandy. They both started as grapes, but the finished product is almost alien from one another.

    Your post brushes against the Great Books debate. I think we have world enough and time for what we want to do. I wish so much of it wasn’t gossiping and silly things.

    Liked by 2 people

  12. Wonderful column about a wonderful American! Down here in Illinois we still celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday as a state holiday and I’m wondering how many people have actually now forgotten when George Washington was born due to the combination of these Americans’ birthdays… betcha a lot have to think really, really hard on that!

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Good morning

    Not sure why my response to the webpage is not loading but will share my comments here. I am so glad I grew up during a time where you were actually able to learn about history, math skills, reading and cursive writing (although I largely just print things now unless it requires a written signature). It pains me to go to the gas station and the station attendant can’t do simple math to determine my 4 cent discount on my gas purchase. I think the education system has evolved to a standard of teaching to the test rather than teaching life skills. What’s sad is that our school boards (and we see this with our Neenah school board election where the Republican party sent out a mailer promoting Republican school board candidates) has evolved into a political form where we can only teach limited topics since we don’t want to often any particular race, creed, or those in the LGBTQ community. Heaven forbid we should allow students to freely think for themselves and read the likes of Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, Huckleberry Finn, Fahrenheit 451, et. al. What they fail to notice is that those publications are readily available via the Internet bookstores and still some libraries. I don’t know how this will change but we need to get back to the life skill, history, reading and math basics in our schools.

    Liked by 1 person

  14. When I was a kid both Washington and Lincoln were two of my heroes. As I got older even though Washington had slaves what he did for this country amazed me. Lincoln did what he thought was best and freed the slaves.
    I learned about both men in 2nd grade. And again all the way through until my 3rd year of college. I took history classes that would include them.
    Two men who put country before themselves.
    Kids should learn how this country came to be even with all the warts. She’s not perfect but we do keep working toward that more perfect union.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I agree with both of your points. Lincoln was a great man, foundational really, and that the teaching of history has become so watered down that it’s almost drivel.
      My parents were really the people who taught me to read carefully as the world was complicated and challenging. They were both naval officers who served throughout WWII. My father served on ships in the Mediterranean and then as a shore patrol company commander (taken off the ship because he was one of the few who spoke Italian), my mother at Chelsea Naval hospital working to repair the consequences of the war. While neither would ever speak much about the war they were clear that reading was essential if I was to become a useful citizen.
      In high school I came across a copy of Lord Russell’s account of the Nuremberg trials in the school library. When I checked it out the women at the desk commented “I don’t know why we have that thing in our library.” Red flags went up in my head wondering why history might be censored. That book was really the beginning of my education about what really can happen in the world. My mother’s constant refrain “ man’s inhumanity to man” suddenly made sense.
      So my dismay at how little people in power seem to understand history and learn it. Vietnam, the contra wars in Central America and the second Iraq war weren’t necessary but a consequence of the hubris of our leadership. George Santayana warned us that ignorance of history was a decision to repeat it.
      It’s clear that the teaching of history is essential to understanding and retaining our democracy. Like Dr King said “ we have some difficult days ahead.”

      Liked by 1 person

  16. I agree with you 100%. It’s so sad that kids today only know things from social media. My friend is a retired teacher. She likes to sub, but only at private schools. She doesn’t like what she sees in the public schools. What are we doing to the younger generation?

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I substitute teach. Every word of this is heartbreakingly true and alarming. I once had a senior in high school label the state of Kansas as Belgium. Sigh.

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I’m 100% with you! I just learned another shocking fact…these days many young people cannot tell time by looking at a clock! They have to check their cell phones or computers! Didn’t we used to learn that before kindergarten? But I also read that cursive may be taught again because tests have shown that retention is greater when written than when typed. I’m not sure how printing rates.

    Liked by 2 people

  21. I wish that every teacher and school board member could read this. I went to school during the 50’s and 60’s and was taught everything you mentioned. Now, they don’t even teach cursive writing! That’s unfathomable to me. Not to mention book banning in schools and libraries. And children these days don’t even know what the Holocaust was. I know the world is changing, but sometimes it’s not for the best. I can still remember my first visit to the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. It was so awe inspiring because we had studied him in Civics. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us, Jan. I wish they could influence those who write the curriculums to do better.

    Liked by 1 person

  22. Here in Connecticut, President Lincoln’s birthday is recognized with the closure of all state offices. Though schools and federal offices are open, I’m hoping the schools do a lesson on this great man.

    Liked by 1 person

  24. I almost think you are a Montessori trained guide! I am at the 3-6 year old level and whole-heartedly agree with you. I am 80 years old and retired from guiding a Children’s House. I miss the visible change in children who learn so quickly and joyfully through this method to reading under their own steam, guided by a teacher, eventually becoming their own guide and teacher as they literally gobble up the books provided. I encourage any parent looking for guidance for a particular educational system that has sustained its course and principles for over 100 years to guide children in their best development with great success to check out a nearby Montessori School under the auspices of AMI (Montessori International Association). Great article J.F. about a great man, as well as a warning about our current education crisis.

    Liked by 1 person

  26. Like you, I learned all these things in grade school back in the 60’s & early 70’s. It’s unfortunate that our nation has forgotten to teach important things like history, literature, spelling, and grammar.

    Liked by 1 person

  28. We live in an upper middle class suburb outside of Chicago. My three millennial children all went to our excellent public schools. I was shocked that they were never drilled on their multiplication tables but were expected to later do higher math. It made no sense. So we made our own tables at home to practice.

    They also went to school during “whole language “ learning where learning phonics was abandoned. Also made no sense! So many children do not just learn to read organically but need to sound things out.

    All of what you wrote rings true to me.

    Patti Bonk

    Liked by 1 person

  29. You are spot on. My first grade teacher was Miss Bowen. My junior high school English and History teacher was Miss Harvey. We memorized, learned cursive, diagramed sentences, had history and geography assignments every day. The pace was much slower then. This essay is so good.

    Liked by 1 person

  34. Are you familiar with a subset of the homeschooling movement that uses the “classical approach” to education? The approach you describe above, that of “grammar school,” followed by deep reading across the breadth of literature & thought in the English language, is still alive and well, although it is small compared the general approaches in public education in the US. And it exists not only in the homeschooling movement but also in small private schools all over the US. In broad outlines, it has children move through three stages of education: grammar (memorization and recitation), logic (writing, argument, problem solving), and rhetoric (presentation of ideas, thesis creation, speech, etc.)

    The approach has children rote-memorizing quite a bit in those very early years, the years when most small children (notably, though: not my own daughter, which is one of the several reasons we took a different approach when homeschooling her) delight in rattling off facts, poems, chants, and other “memory work.”

    Like

    • I am very much aware of it. There are several classical education schoools in our area, and the children are uniformly impressive. I’ve met whole classrooms of kindergarteners who know a noun from a verb, and third graders who can explain the details of the Declaration of Independence.

      Liked by 1 person

  36. Wonderful post. My birthday is Feb. 12 and I’ve always appreciated sharing the date with the great Abraham Lincoln. Your words are profound.

    Like

Comments are closed.