beretta304
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Going back more than six years, its clear our nations college students are largely civically illiterate. According to surveys from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, college freshmen typically flunk a 60-question civics test with an average score of just better than 51 percent; college seniors flunk it with a score of around 53 percent.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, our countrys high schools taught less about the constitution in 2010 than they did in 2006, a trend that continues. In fact, in 2010, only 67 percent of high school seniors studied our founding documents, meaning about a third dont study our government in the year before they are eligible to vote.
Based on National Assessment of Education Progress tests, the formal assessment exams given to students across the nation to gauge what theyre learning, American students exhibit an alarming lack of proficiency in government and economics.As of 2006 (the last year for which statistics were available when I researched the book), only 36 percent of high school seniors could name the governments primary source of income. (That would be taxes, kids.) Only 33 percent could explain the effect of an increase in real interest rates on consumer borrowing, and a scant 11 percent could analyze how a change in unemployment rates affects income, spending and production.
And of course, its not just young adults who are civically illiterate. In 2008, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute administered a basic 33-question civic literacy test to a random sample of 2,508 American adults. Respondents had a range of educational attainment from high school diplomas to advanced degrees.
Questions came from past institute surveys, as well as from nationally recognized exams, such as the U.S. governments citizenship test and the National Assessment of Education Progress test. Respondents also were asked questions regarding their level of engagement in other activities that may or may not contribute to civic literacy.
The average score for all Americans who took this straightforward civic literacy test was 49 percent, or an F, proving the apple doesnt fall far from the civically illiterate tree.
Which brings us to last weeks presidential election. Exit polls revealed that a stunning 42 percent of voters said Mr. Obamas response to Superstorm Sandy was important when making their decisions about whom to vote for in the election.Thats about what youd expect from a civically illiterate electorate.
Civic illiteracy won the White House for Obama - Conservative News
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, our countrys high schools taught less about the constitution in 2010 than they did in 2006, a trend that continues. In fact, in 2010, only 67 percent of high school seniors studied our founding documents, meaning about a third dont study our government in the year before they are eligible to vote.
Based on National Assessment of Education Progress tests, the formal assessment exams given to students across the nation to gauge what theyre learning, American students exhibit an alarming lack of proficiency in government and economics.As of 2006 (the last year for which statistics were available when I researched the book), only 36 percent of high school seniors could name the governments primary source of income. (That would be taxes, kids.) Only 33 percent could explain the effect of an increase in real interest rates on consumer borrowing, and a scant 11 percent could analyze how a change in unemployment rates affects income, spending and production.
And of course, its not just young adults who are civically illiterate. In 2008, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute administered a basic 33-question civic literacy test to a random sample of 2,508 American adults. Respondents had a range of educational attainment from high school diplomas to advanced degrees.
Questions came from past institute surveys, as well as from nationally recognized exams, such as the U.S. governments citizenship test and the National Assessment of Education Progress test. Respondents also were asked questions regarding their level of engagement in other activities that may or may not contribute to civic literacy.
The average score for all Americans who took this straightforward civic literacy test was 49 percent, or an F, proving the apple doesnt fall far from the civically illiterate tree.
Which brings us to last weeks presidential election. Exit polls revealed that a stunning 42 percent of voters said Mr. Obamas response to Superstorm Sandy was important when making their decisions about whom to vote for in the election.Thats about what youd expect from a civically illiterate electorate.
Civic illiteracy won the White House for Obama - Conservative News
