I'm appalled by some of the ignorance on this forum and how much disinformation is believed. Sadly, people here are probably better informed than the general public.
Although people should be acquainted with facts and figures, it is more important that people understand the ideas and history behind the constitution and our government. Facts can be looked up.
In general K-12 education over emphasizes the memorization of facts because that is easier to test with multiple choice test. At least when I was in K-12 school (starting fifty years ago) much of what we learned was myths and propaganda ie. Washington crossing Delaware, Washington and Cherry tree, Lincoln walking in snow to return a book, the first Thanksgiving with Indians etc. All European history was taught in one year and we learned virtually nothing about Asia, Russia, Africa, Canada, and central and south America. Except for a bit about the civil rights, we learned nothing about the post WWII era.
In college I learned how inaccurate and propagandish my K-12 social studies/history/civics education actually was.
The most important thing I learned, largely from my parents, is how to do research, teach yourself, and tell the difference between good and bad information, and how to put information in context. Those skills, media literacy, is one of the most important things to learn and should be taught throughout K-12 school and reinforced in college. The lack of those skills is the main cause of political ignorance and the source of a lot of unnecessary conflict. A better understanding of logic, science and the empirical method would also reduce a lot of ignorance and belief in disinformation.
