Arizona lawmakers push for mandatory civics test in high schools
Sep 18, 2014, 10:12 AM | Updated: 10:12 am
PHOENIX — Here’s a simple civics question: Can you name the three branches of the U.S. government? Research by the Pew Institute found only one-third of Americans could answer that question.
Arizona State Rep. Steve Montenegro said the outcome was even worse when high school students were given that question and 99 others in the full U.S. Citizenship Civics Test.
“More than 96 percent of high school students who are getting ready to leave high school in search of their own American dream fail this test,” he said.
Montenegro called that unacceptable, considering every immigrant seeking U.S. citizenship must pass the same test to become a naturalized citizen.
He is authoring the Arizona Civics Education Initiative. Six other states are calling for a similar initiative, including Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Utah. If passed, it would require all Arizona high school students pass the test before receiving a diploma.
National coordinator Sam Stone described the test as, “One hundred basic facts about American history, who we are as a nation, and what founded this country, considered the minimum basic knowledge someone needs to understand our form of government and our republic.”
Students would have the chance to take it as many times as needed to pass.
“No taxpayer dollars would be needed,” Montenegro said. “Civics is already being taught in our schools.”
The plan would use the existing citzenship test, available online. There was no word, however, on what funding would pay for classroom time conducting the tests, and assuring that teachers were given enough time and material to teach to the test.
Montenegro said he’d like all the state’s lawmakers to have to take the test before assuming office.
For those playing at home, the three branches of the U.S. government are executive, congressional and judicial.