I agree that it's important to have an awareness of matters of cultural and historical importance, but we need to keep in mind that that awareness will be much more solid if one has actually lived through the experience. Learning about something in school is useful and important, but I just don't think the level of retention is comparable. We'll likely absorb something about the issue through our study, but may not hang onto all the details. Our parents and grandparents lived through WWII, McCarthyism, etc., so of course their knowledge base on those issues will be deeper.
Well, I wasn't born until 1971 and I know about all those things. I also know all the songs of Elvis and The Beatles and I know who Lloyd Price and Etta James are. You know what you care to know and most kids are content being dumb and knowing more about Paris Hilton than Harriet Tubman.
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