Arizona has come up with a good idea: students must past a civics test to graduate.
Research shows that a majority of Born in the USA Americans could not pass a citizenship test like those taken by immigrants. And, from what too many say about our government, and our history it is clear that the researchers are right. A lot of sounds good, myth-misinformation has become fact in the mind of many. And, this is nothing new. I have been involved in civic affairs for 50+ years, and have heard it all. I have been amazed at how little some people know when it comes to our government and history. And, how many believe things said that are so very untrue as if it were gospel. I often thought that having to pass a citizenship test to vote would be good idea. But, I also figured that we would have to have some means of testing everyone, and that just would not happen. But, this sounds good that to graduate you need to pass a civic test. While math and science are important understanding our American Exceptionalism is vital. For those my age remember that we used to be taught Civics, until it seems too many everyday Americans began to use it to purse the exercise of their Rights and Responsibilities, then it became Social Studies. A coincidence was that the other night I was watching CPTV, Connecticut’s PBS; the program was Connecticut in the 1960’s. The JFK era spurred citizens to take up their responsibilities and to work together to resolve their own local problems themselves. They did, but those in the “establishment” did not like this as if people could take of their own problems themselves, and knew the real relationship of the voter taxpayer to government, that some of those less than functional in government might see the success of “those” people threatening their status.
When I first became involved in my early teens, because I cam from the wrong side of the city, was told: who are you to question your better? And, you could not know what works.
As said before I was a Democrat until a couple of years ago, but for the most part it was the only game in town if you wanted to work the system to benefit my community. But, my independent thinking streak often put me at odds with Party people. And, worse, I was often proven right, and or that I had greater command of the real facts. This lead to my being labeled a “trouble maker” or “loose cannon.” But I guess that a lot of people are in the same category as there are so many former Dems, and Republicans who are not Independent voters. So, maybe if we start early to again educate people to the realities of our unique form of government and history we may start to get out of the mess that has been made.
So, I will be calling upon our Westfield legislators to propose that they look at the Arizona law, and come up with legislation to do something similar. If you agree please join with me in encouraging Rep. Velis, and Sen. Humason to look into this. I welcome and urge your feedback.
Brian Hoose, [email protected]
