Are Americans becoming culturally illiterate? Writing in the Spring 1983 issue of American Scholar and in conversation here, E. D. Hirsch, Jr., argues for the desirability of shared, canonical knowledge as the basis for literacy in the United States. Without knowledge of American culture as an essential element in educational curricula, according to Hirsch, American schools are likely to continue producing students who do not fully understand their overall culture and history. He explains his ideas about cultural literacy and discusses the roles of parents, educators, and students toward its implementation.
At the time of this interview, Hirsch was professor of English at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
This edition of Soundings was conducted by Wayne J. Pond.
