A third-grade lesson

Americans have a bad reputation when it comes to geography. No wonder people think West Virginia is Western Virginia. It’s no surprise that Africa is often inaccurately identified as a country.

How many U.S. citizens can spin a globe and point to Iraq, Romania or Israel without hesitation?

One the biggest deficits in today’s classrooms concerns history — American history. We’re big on teaching social issues, but small on giving kids a patriotic foundation layered with the reasons people have fought and died for the country we call home.

Across America, fewer and fewer students can verbalize the significance of D-Day. As for Independence Day and Memorial Day, kids know they are historical holidays — for picnicking.

The good news is there are exceptions to all the above. I was reminded of this in the most elementary way.

Among my various occupations, I substitute teach. Not long ago, I spent an afternoon with a third-grade class.

The lesson plans instructed me to shepherd the students outside for recess, read to them while they enjoyed an afternoon snack, hit the books for an hour of math and finish up the day with social studies.

With the exception of one accidental dive into a pond-like puddle on the playground, we survived recess and snack time without incident. We tackled the math — factors of whole numbers and algorithms.

It wasn’t the kids’ fault they didn’t have time to complete an in-class worksheet; it was mine. I misunderstood the instructions to mean homework. Together, we said, “Ugh” and moved on to social studies.

We read about the War of 1812 and how the mammoth American flag sewn by Mary Pickersgill inspired Francis Scott Key.

Then, I mentioned “The Star Spangled Banner.” My charges — all 22 of them — broke out in song.

They weren’t disrespectful or joking around. They knew every word, their faces unwavering and their voices proud.

Prompted by a list of discussion questions, I asked, “What other patriotic songs might make a good national anthem?”

I said to myself, “Self, ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ is easy. You’ll have to help them think of other patriotic songs.”

Wrong. A hand shot up.

“This Land is Your Land,” said a girl in the back corner.

Again, the kids broke into song.

“You’re a Grand Old Flag,” said the boy in the tangerine T-shirt.

Again, they knew every word.

“My Country, ‘Tis of Thee.” “America the Beautiful.” The best ever-impromptu third-grade concert continued — until someone said, “Yankee Doodle.”

“We’re not singing ‘Yankee Doodle’,” said a boy to my right. “That song makes fun of us.”

Right, he was. I looked it up.

Though verses were later added to make it a song of American pride, “Yankee Doodle” was initially sung by the British military to mock our colonial soldiers. My young friend was loyal to his brave ancestors. “Yankee Doodle” did not make the song list.

I left the school that day feeling encouraged. Maybe American history is not a major curriculum focus across our United States. But all is not lost.

There are teachers who are finding ways to include the red, white and blue — somehow, some way. And pride is taking root.

I know, without a doubt, there are at least 22 third-graders who can and will tell anyone the real reason we observe Memorial Day.