Posted on 01/13/2019 9:03:33 PM PST by Eddie01
An Indiana state senator is recommending high school students pass a citizenship test in order to graduate.
Sen. Dennis Kruse is proposing a bill that requires students in public high school to pass a 100-question citizenship test in order to officially graduate, The Journal Gazette reported.
The same examination used by immigrants to become legal U.S. citizens would be administered to the students if Senate Bill 132 passes. The same bill proposed in 2015 was defeated by the full Senate.
“There is a deficiency in government and civics knowledge, and it’s getting worse,” the Indiana Republican told The Journal Gazette.
Currently, eight states have similar requirements and others require the exam but don’t base graduation on the results. Under Kruse’s proposed legislation, students may take the civics test as many times as need from grades 8 through 12 until they pass.
“This is not a partisan issue. The test is not partisan,” Micah Clark, of the American Family Association of Indiana said.
Former New York Congresswoman Nan Hayworth supports the bill and believes it is important for the “future” og=f the nation.
“For the future of our great representative Democracy, the number one thing that we really need to do is have our citizens understand what the Constitution has given us,” the former Republican lawmaker said on “Fox & Friends” Saturday.
She connected the drop in civics education in the country to the rising push towards socialism, saying students “don’t understand what it means to have government control every aspect of our lives.”
Not everyone is in favor of the idea, however, with some education groups opposing the proposed legislation.
Ken Folks, chief of governmental affairs for the Indiana Department of Education, sees the test as just a form of memorization for students rather than analyzing information.
“The standards require the students to learn the material at a greater depth of knowledge, than just a test that asks for memorization,” Folks said, according to The Journal Gazette.
“When we take a test for memorization, how much of that can we actually apply?” Sally Sloane, of the American Federation of Teachers, asked, touting the standards already in place being used by teachers.
A national survey released in October by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation found that only one in three Americans – or 36 percent – would pass the U.S. Citizenship Test. A major discrepancy could be seen in the different age groups, with only 19 percent of those under 45 years old being able to pass the test.
Hayworth found the “generational drop-off” figures were dramatic and contended that it’s “crucial” for students to understand the what the limited responsibilities of federal and state governments are.
“If we fail to understand that, we are doomed to [a] downward spiral,” she said.
A civics test. How quaint.
I had to pass a similar test to advance from 8th grade.
Are they not already citizens? And what’s the big deal, are they not taught and tested on such basics during their 12 long years of schooling?
Civics taught? Uh..no.
It won’t change anything. If a failed test does not allow them to vote it would be considered racist. They can also charge that anyone who pays taxes should be entitled to vote.
Definitely badly needed. I remember an 8th grade class in which we spent an entire semester dedicated to studying/learning the US Constitution, clause by clause. A lot of current 8th graders probably couldn’t even spell constitution correctly.
Now they teach the kids to hate America in school.
This is an amazingly sensible idea.
They had to get a 70 to pass. No one ever scored below 80, with quite a few 100%. After I handed back their tests, we'd get out the miniature American flags and go out in my huge backyard and act like a bunch of fools cos they had passed it. It was a big deal.
Interestingly enough, when 2 (out of 20+) students transferred back into the public schools, the only class that would not transfer was our government class. I called the counselors at the high school and asked them why not? I was using a very well known curriculum, not some fringe writings. My kids knew all the paper documents that our country was governed under, and their order. The school said because the class wasn't taught by a state-approved teacher...in other words, my kids weren't indoctrinated enough! Damn me, I had helped raise and educate some independent thinkers! Public schools can't handle independent thinkers!
This seems to be an admission that there have been certain holes in the curriculum, wouldn't you say?
While they're at it - give the teaching candidates the same test. Current teachers, too - pop quiz!
I had to learn the preamble to the state constitution and the Declaration of Independence in 1966 to graduate the 8th grade. I got no college degree and I know how many branches of government we have. I’m an old man and it didn’t hurt me. I can’t believe it s/
Mandating a citizenship test in order to vote would do more to break the Demoncrat strangehold in certain areas than requiring photo ID would.
The mistake was putting Government in charge of education in the first place. We need a separation of school and state amendment. I might add the first 100 years of this country worked fine without Government schools.
Great idea.
Government-run daytime detention centers don’t teach children what they need to know, They teach them what they need to believe.
Is the test given in English only?
They are mostly “taught” that white men, who are basically responsible for modern civilization,are jerks.
And that LBGQT, leftist women, muslims,POC an or illegals who’s contribution have been mostly been to draw attention to themselves and file endless greviences ..they should rule over us.
Two thumbs up!
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