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Schools across the country departed from their routines yesterday to observe the inauguration of President Obama. In newspaper articles describing schools' Inauguration Day activities, teachers and students alike observed--quite rightly--that they had a chance to be a part of history.

Robert Pondiscio at the Core Knowledge Blog raised some important follow-up questions: Just how many students are actually familiar with the history whose culmination they witnessed? How many understood the historical references in President Obama's inauguration speech? Pondiscio writes:

If our children do not know the events and phrases to which Obama referred, they cannot fully appreciate the significance of this moment or even what this President is asking of them. How is it possible for them to be “the keepers of this legacy” — why should they value it and seek to keep it at all? — unless they understand the thing they are being asked to keep?

Without a doubt, the history of the nation's struggle towards equality might seem less exalted to students of color who still face daunting social and economic disadvantages. But ignorance of the nation's history and civic traditions will surely compound those disadvantages. If anything, the President's words should inspire educators, communities and policy makers to resist incentives to squeeze history and civics out of the curriculum.

Yesterday, President Obama enjoined all Americans "to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

Like presidents before him, Obama looks to "our better history" for strength and guidance at a time when the nation faces sobering challenges. It's critical that we not reserve the history lesson for Inauguration Day alone.