Americans Don’t Know Civics

I came across an interesting article on USA Today’s website, “Americans don’t know civics.”  What is really disturbing about this article, is the fact that the average score on the test, given by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, was 49%.  49%????????  In my opinion, given the record turnout in the election earlier this month, this number is highly unacceptable.  More people know who Paula Abdul is than what is included in Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address!  I’m afraid, these results don’t surprise me in the slightest bit.

The sad thing about this whole situation is, basic civics lessons are on the decline in America.  I graduated from high school more than a decade ago, and I can tell you even then, basic civics was sorely lacking.  While attending college at GW, there was very little done in the area of basic U.S. civics.  Sure, I took an American Politics class as one of my basic requirements, but even in that class, we did not discuss most of the items this quiz questions you on.

Most of what I learned in civics, I picked up in a book, and did a lot of reading.  I say that because I want to be completely educated when I am making decisions, not only at the ballot box, but when I deal with elected officials, so I can have some inkling of understanding when discussing these items with them.

The USA Today article previews a few questions from the quiz; however, you can take the entire quiz here.

I hope, when my kids go to school, they will see an increase in basic civics knowledge, but I do not have any problem with teaching them those things myself, if need be.  To me, this shows how much our public schools are failing not only us, but our children.

It is purely unacceptable, in my mind, that people have thrown basic knowledge to the curb in favor of video games, the internet, and Ipods.  An uneducated population leads people to make poor decisions when it comes to election time, and other important ballot issues that we, as Americans, need to decide on.  Without this basic knowledge, I feel, that we are trekking through the wildnerness without a guide, nor a compass.