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Tuesday, July 05, 2011

A Nation of Imbeciles?

According to the latest published survey of the proficiency level of American students, the U.S. may well be on its way to becoming a nation of imbeciles. The vast majority of students, including high school and college, could not pass the citizenship test given to immigrants who have applied to become citizens. And U.S. History is by far the worst subject for students in public schools.
Only 12% of high school seniors are proficient in U.S. History.
Most students cannot identify the country from which America declared its independence in 1776. Most cannot name 3 of the 4 rights described in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Most do not understand the purpose behind the Bill of Rights nor can they describe the key concept of 'checks and balances' between the 3 branches of government. And the vast majority do not know that Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.
What, exactly, is the root cause of such widespread ignorance?

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