Here’s an Important Test for You to Take.

Here’s an Important Test for You to Take. by The Elephant's Child

November 20, 2008, 3:10 pm
Filed under: Economy, Education, History, The Constitution | Tags: American Government, Basic Citizenship, Civic Education, Civic Literacy

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has just completed a study to see what Americans know about their own history, government and economics.  Their question — are most people, including college graduates civically illiterate?  Do elected officials know even less than most citizens about civic topics like history, government and economics?  Well, Yes they do.

More than 2,500 randomly selected Americans took ISI’s basic 33-question test on civic literacy and more than 1,700 people failed

The average score was 49 percent or an “F”.  Elected officials scored even lower than the general public with an average score of 44 percent and only 0,8 percent (or 21) of all surveyed earned an “A.”

Even more discouraging was the fact that over twice as many people know Paula Abdul was a judge on American Idol than know that the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

According to ISI, the blame and the solution lie at the doorstep of the nations colleges.  Colleges can, and should play an important role in curing this national epidemic of ignorance.  Parents can help too.  See what your kids know.

The test consists of 33 multiple-choice questions and will take only a few minutes.  See how you will do.  No prizes, and you don’t have to tell anybody.

http://americancivicliteracy.org/resources/quiz.aspx

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