Topic: Naep

A report from the Education Department reveals that only a quarter of eighth graders are proficient in history, civics, and geography. The hosts joke that this lack of knowledge is not new, playing Sam Cooke's "Wonderful World," and share an anecdote about a modern astronomy class that never used a telescope.

Diane Ravitch discusses the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the "nation's report card," and its role in revealing the failures of the No Child Left Behind Act. The emphasis on high-stakes testing is blamed for "teaching to the test" and a decline in general knowledge among American students.