December 16, 2008
“It cannot be doubted that in the United States the instruction of the people powerfully contributes to the support of the democratic republic.”
Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, Vol. I, Part B, 1840
As we draw toward the conclusion of the first decade of the 21st century, one may wonder what de Tocqueville would think of our modern education system. It has long been recognized that, in addition to teaching basic skills like reading, writing and arithmetic, part of the mission of our public education system is to prepare students to become responsible citizens – citizens who understand our system of government, the rights and freedoms it affords, and each citizens’ ability to affect that democracy by having their voices heard literally by way of the 1st amendment or by way of the power of the vote. Currently civic education is declining with fewer and fewer schools mandating its inclusion in core curricula.
Recently the Intercollegiate Studies Institute compiled a 33-question test on civic knowledge. The average American scored 49% and elected officials scored even lower with an average 44% score. With these kinds of scores, should there be a standardized civics test? The 2008 edition of America’s Civic Health Index shows that 67% of CHI respondents favored requiring high school students to pass a new test on civics or government. At the 2008 National Conference on Citizenship, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor expressed her unequivocal support for mandatory civics instruction.
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