Thanksgiving is more about celebrating the [link|http://pilgrims.net/plymouth/thanksgiving.htm|Pilgrim's survival their first year], etc., etc. (But it didn't become a national holiday until 1863. There's also supposed to be an element of being grateful for one's own situation, but in the last 30 years (or more) it's devolved into a family get together to eat too much and watch (American) football on TV. And then go shopping for Christmas the next day.

"Religious tolerance" is something that's a nebulous concept for many, I suspect. Many public schools don't usually discuss religion much at all, because history isn't taught much at all. And there's the risk of the school district getting sued if parents don't like what is being taught about religion. Those people who have strong, overt, religious opinions apparently often regard "religious tolerance" as freedom to practice their type of Christianity without interference by the government.

Private schools can teach what they like.

"Separation of Church and State" is taught, but many don't see the implication. E.g. Some seem to think that as long as the state doesn't collect taxes for a state church, any other sort of religious doctrine being written into the laws or regulations is fair game, because, you see, we're a [link|http://christianparty.net/christianation.htm|Christian Nation]. Not that I agree with that, of course.

History instruction in the US is generally pretty weak, and with the [link|http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml?src=pb|No Child Left Behind] requirements for emphasis on Reading and Math, it's unlikely to get better soon.

[link|http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/ushistory/results/natachieve-g12.asp|NEAP].
National U.S. history achievement-level results, grade 12 (public and nonpublic schools combined): 1994 and 2001
[image|http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/images/ushistory/results/fig2_3c.gif|0|12th Grade History Proficiency - All Students|248|320]

HTH a bit.

Cheers,
Scott.