Indiana lawmakers consider requiring students to pass citizenship test

[Judi Lynn]

Source: UPI

FEB. 8, 2019 / 1:45 PM
By Jessie Higgins

EVANSVILLE, Ind. Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Indiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would require all high school students in the state to pass the United States citizenship test to graduate.

This kind of legislation has become a growing trend in states across the country. At least 13 have enacted similar laws since 2015, including Arizona, North Dakota and Kentucky.

The impetus behind the proposed law, some elected officials said, are recent surveys of Americans -- especially young Americans -- that show a striking lack of knowledge about how the U.S. government functions.

A 2016 study by the University of Pennsylvania, for example, showed that only 26 percent of people could name all three branches of government. And nearly one-third could not name a single branch.

Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/02/08/Indiana-lawmakers-consider-requiring-students-to-pass-citizenship-test/9301549637433/

[msongs]

1. in our HS we had a required "civics" class that covered all this govt stuff. nt

[deurbano]

8. We had to pass a civics test in 8th grade. I don't know what the penalty for failing was, though.

I don't remember anyone being held back... or anyone failing, for that matter.

In high school, our social studies class was called "GHC" for geography, history and civics. I think that was for both 9th and 10th grade, and then we had Government senior year. My kids have had to take a class in US History and a class in Government (among other requirements) to graduate from high school.

[BamaRefugee]

2. Hopefully they're deported if they fail the citizenship test. Love to see a loooong line of white

kids in leg irons hobbling toward buses heading for Mexico.
Poor Mexico though, the overall IQ level of their country will plummet with the new immigrants.


BUT, far less trouble getting meth to consumers when they're living right inside your borders!

[kag]

7. That must be Trump's idea

to make Mexico pay for the wall--to keep out all of the American idiots.

[DavidDvorkin]

11. Why, that could turn Indiana blue!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

19. I'd have to be drawn and quartered.

Then deported to England, Poland, Germany, and Russia. No, wait, give me another try, I'll study real hard this time.

How a bill is passed: First, send your lobbyists to stay at the Trump Hotel. Then, ...

[IrishEyes]

3. I would bet that Trump couldn't pass a citizenship test if he had to take one.

The vast majority of trump supporters would fail the test as well.

I took a practice test online and passed with a perfect score. It was fun.

[keithbvadu2]

22. I mess up on the voting percentages and ratios.

[LiberalFighter]

4. Shouldn't it be enough that students include a history or civics class?

If they fail the class they fail it. No other consequences. If they really want consequences maybe they are not allowed to run for any elected office until pass it. But should not be to graduate.

[BigmanPigman]

18. Yes, definitely take the classes

and learn about Civics and practice it. Taking a test wouldn't achieve much. They would memorize it then forget what they memorized 24 hours later. I taught Civics (secretly) to my First Graders and we voted with secret, anonymous ballots and the votes were tallied in front of the class (if caught I could say I was teaching reading, writing and math, which I was). The kids loved doing it so we voted on stuff throughout the year.

[csziggy]

31. A lot of states offer civics courses but only 17 consider part of the "education framework"

I know Florida has a more rigorous civics requirement than many states - the Parkland school had one of the banner programs. The article below was written before Florida passed their program.

EDUCATION 10/12/2012 02:03 am ET
Civics Education Testing Only Required In 9 States For High School Graduation: CIRCLE Study

A study by the Center for Information and Research on Civil Learning & Engagement at Tufts University has found that most states do not emphasize civic education, which includes learning about citizenship, government, law, current events and related topics.

In the current school year, 21 states require a state-designed social studies test — a significant decrease from 2001, when 34 states conducted regular assessments on social studies subjects. Only nine states require students to pass a social studies test to graduate from high school: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. Georgia’s will be phased out, but Maryland and Florida are slated to add high-stakes tests.

Although 39 states require at least one course in American government or civics, only eight states administer statewide, standardized tests specifically in civics/American government: California, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Of those, Ohio and Virginia are the only ones that require students to pass said test in order to graduate from high school.

The study also points out that since 2000, social studies assessments have shifted from a combination of multiple-choice and performance tasks — like essays — to almost exclusively multiple-choice exams.
More: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/12/circle-study-finds-most-s_n_1959522.html

[DirtEdonE]

5. Now this is really funny

I read a story a while ago about U.S. citizens' ignorance of anything that has to do with basic questions on citizenship so if Indiana or any other state wants to make this a requirement I have no problem at all since the only people capable of passing a U.S. citizenship test, based on the story I read, are the newcomer "illegal" immigrants American dumb asses complain about. So, if Indiana wants to test people for citizenship it can become the first state to have a majority "illegal" population. And I for one, having been to Indiana, think this would be a fantastic improvement.

[ToxMarz]

6. Only problem is who is writing the text books

When all these know-nothing states that do everything possible to keep the majority from voting, I'm suspicious. Bet they're up to something.

[IronLionZion]

9. Immigrant kids will study and pass. Many American kids will fail

Race is very different from citizenship.

[The Mouth]

10. Or make it a requirement to vote

[DavidDvorkin]

12. I went to high school in Indiana in the 1950s

I was an immigrant kid, and I took all the US history and civics courses I could. I loved that stuff. My school had a lot of that, and it was very well taught.

One result was that when I took the citizenship test a few years later, it was boringly easy.

[MosheFeingold]

13. I actually don't have a problem with this

It's all super basic stuff, and kind of the minimal one needs to understand how the government works.

The test is here, BTW:

https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/07/us/us-citizenship-quiz-trnd/index.html

[Fritz67]

29. Just took it...

You're not kidding: you'd have to be incredibly ignorant of history and civics to fail that test.

Which means a lot of Republican voters would probably fail that test.

[onetexan]

14. hmm, given GOP has trifecta control of this state's government, am i the only one sensing something

more sinister here?
My hunch is this is a ploy to identify illegal students to report them to ICE.

[BlueIdaho]

15. Only if they can pass one first...

Bet they can’t.

[azureblue]

16. agreed

all legislators, all the way up to the president, should be given, and pass, tests on US citizenship (the same test that is given when applying for US citizenship) and US government. The President must also pass a test on Constitutional law.

[GulfCoast66]

17. No problem with this...if they just give the actual citizenship test.

But knowing Indiana they will include The Judeo-Christian shit they love so much.

[Bob Loblaw]

32. How long did you live in Indiana

to become an expert? Please share with those of us from Indiana what it's like to live on the gulf coast where apparently no nutty Christians live.

[GulfCoast66]

33. My wife grew up in Indiana. Her family still lives there.

And would be the first to support public education including Judeo-Christian brainwashing. I bet Pence would agree. After all he supported one of the most repressive anti-LGBT laws ever passed. Granted, too repressive for even Indiana. But only after they realized it would hurt them economically.

And this is a memorable day! For the first time I have read, a northerner is insulted at a broad brush condemnation of their state by someone from the South! Ironic since the South is routinely smeared, often rightly so, on DU.

I own the shittyness of my state. I’m fighting to change it, but it cannot be denied that much of Florida is a right wing hell hole.

On edit: I mean shitty in a political sense. Florida and Indiana are both beautiful states full of lots of generous and fine people. My wife is proud of it and I don’t blame her. But politically Indiana is not much different than my state.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. Perhaps we should require all lawmakers pass the test first n/t

[keithbvadu2]

21. Captains can't break the law. They is the law, as far as I'm concerned

Moby Dick

Captains can't break the law. They is the law, as far as I'm concerned

https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=moby-dick-1956

"Wrest his command from him "? -Does that mean take over? -lt does, Mr. Flask. You ain't proposing we do any such thing? You're in dangerous waters, Mr. Starbuck. Helm hard over. Come about. Do thee not see... that by serving Ahab we share in his blasphemy? Will thee risk that... or stand with me and invoke the law? Pardon me, sir, this is my watch. Captains can't break the law. They is the law, as far as I'm concerned. Aye, and Ahab's a real fine captain, too. Why, there ain't a man aboard, except you maybe... wouldn't rather be kicked by him than be knighted by the Queen of England. I'm done, then. Go write thy last will and testament. Aye, and do it laughing, sir.

[X_Digger]

23. I've often suggested an online civics course..

.. that when completed, lets the person get a $500 discount on their taxable income.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

24. K&R for a 5th rec n/t

[IronLionZion]

25. US Citizenship Practice Test:

https://my.uscis.gov/prep/test/civics

You know a lot of deplorables will fail this test.

[BumRushDaShow]

27. Got a 100!

[wildflowergardener]

34. Rule of law

I’m only a little bit into the test the currentquestion is what is the rule of law. One of the answers is everyone but the president must follow the law. I almost chose that one but surprisingly enough the correct answer is everyone must follow the law. I’m surprised trump has not changed the test.

[rpannier]

39. Got a 100

But I almost missed numbers 14 and 16

14. Who is the vice-president? I was looking for Toady McGoofenhaus and 16. Who is the President? Hair Douche was not an option

[IronLionZion]

42. President is Hair Furor and VP is the white walker

[BumRushDaShow]

26. "a striking lack of knowledge about how the U.S. government functions"

It's not just the students. It's even the damn elected officials in Congress!!!! And add the media to that list too.

[sinkingfeeling]

28. Good idea. Too bad it passage can't be required to vote.

[at140]

30. In 1970 I had to pass the citizenship test

To become naturalized US citizen. I remember memorizing the constituition.

[GulfCoast66]

35. Is that really the test? Lord, it was easy to get 100%

Especially loved question 16, I think it was.

Name the current speaker of the house!

[rpannier]

40. That's interesting

The practice test I took 16 was who is the President

[YOHABLO]

36. Not a bad idea for Presidential candidates to pass a U.S. Constitution test.

Then perhaps in future we could weed out prospects like Trump.

[Progressive Jones]

37. I had to pass US Constitution tests to graduate from the 8th grade, and from high school. 1970s. nt

[murielm99]

38. Me too.

I subbed for awhile. I helped a class of high school students study for their state and federal constitution tests. They had to pass both in order to graduate. This is in Illinois.

[Rebl2]

41. Same here

We also had to pass a test on our state constitution.