Brack: More civics education is a good thing

My 11-year-old daughter fretted last week over which president’s name she would draw from a hat at school for a history project. She was emphatic that she didn’t want somebody “boring” like Ulysses S. Grant, not a terribly popular name in our household.

She wanted John F. Kennedy, probably because she has a youth-reader biography of him. I suggested Harry Truman might be better, to which she said, “Oh, the guy who dropped the atomic bomb.” She selected neither, but seemed satisfied with Georgia’s Jimmy Carter of whom she knows little. He has accomplished a lot since his presidency, I told her, and she should include that in the research.

The point of the story is that she is excited to be learning about presidents and, in turn, American government. But lots of students throughout the state and nation have little understanding or connection with how America works because we haven’t emphasized old-fashioned civics.

Now comes a new initiative to stress civics education in state schools and it’s something state lawmakers should approve.

“It is so important that all of our students graduate from high school with a basic knowledge of how and why our government works,” former Gov. Dick Riley told Statehouse Report last week. “This will help them go on to lead more productive lives in college and careers and in life, itself.   This very basic knowledge of civics is critical to being a good and effective citizen of our great democracy.”

Riley, a former U.S. secretary of education, is among three former governors pushing the civics education initiative. Also on board are former governors David Beasley and Jim Hodges. So was the late Jim Edwards, who passed away in December. The effort now has been named in his honor.

The James B. Edwards Civics Education Initiative calls for high school students to take a 100-question U.S. Citizenship Civics Test as part of an existing half-year course in government. The proposal doesn’t mandate passage of the test as a requirement for graduation (although it should), but students who get a passing score of 60 or better will receive an achievement certificate. Results will be reported to the state for assessment. No cost is envisioned as the test and all study materials are online for free. (More: http://civicsquiz.com/).

See if you know the answers these CivicsQuiz sample questions, most of which are taken from the exam taken by people who want to become naturalized U.S. citizens:

1. What are two rights of all American citizens?

   a. Right to vote; right to a job
   b.  Right to succeed; right to pursue happiness
   c.  Right to free speech; right to health care
   d.  Right to bear arms; right to free speech

2. What is one thing Benjamin Franklin is famous for?

   a. Invented the Cotton Gin
   b.  First Postmaster General of the United States
   c.  Third President of the United States
   d.  Discovered gravity

3. Which constitutional amendment related to voting rights for women?

   a. 1st
   b.  27th
   c.  19th
   d.  2nd

A broad, bipartisan group of House and Senate leaders this week backed the initiative.

“Understanding basic civics is fundamental to becoming and engaged and responsible citizen,” said bill co-sponsor James Smith, a Democratic state representative from Columbia. “If we ask immigrants to know these facts about our country to become good citizens, we should make sure our own citizens understand these same principles.”

According to proponents of the measure, 92 percent of immigrants seeking citizenship pass the test on the first try. Want to guess how many high school students in Oklahoma and Arizona pass the test according to studies? 4 percent.

High school graduates should have a better, basic understanding of American civics and history. This is something we can fix. So let’s do it — if not for individual students, then for the state and country.

(Answers: 1d; 2b; 3c.)