" In March, Dr. Bruce Cole, the chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, spoke at a luncheon in Ashland of a severe case of 'American Amnesia.' 'The memory of what we believe as Americans is fading. We are in danger of having the view of our future obscured by the ignorance of the past,' Cole said. Cole's message has been received. "

" The U.S. Department of Education stepped to the plate Monday with $2 million -- and a plan to help north central Ohio teachers and students find a cure for 'American Amnesia.' The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center received about $2 million in grants which will be used to set up professional development programs for American history teachers in area middle schools and high schools."

" 'No. 1, the grants will allow us to more closely align American history curriculum with state standards,' said Tom Ash, director of MOESC. 'It's an extension of what we've already been doing at Mid-Ohio. It simply provides us with another resource to help us achieve our goals.' "

" The grants are provided under the No Child Left Behind Act. The development programs will run in partnership with the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, The Ohio State University and the Ohio Historical Society. "

" 'I'm here to make good on a promise by the president,' said Brian Jones, general counsel of the U.S. Department of Education. 'Teaching American history is critical to teaching American citizenry. We need students to be taught by highly-qualified teachers. Through these grants we want to make sure teachers understand American history.'"