Proposal would ask S.C. students to take civics test
COLUMBIA Can you name your representative to Congress? Give the title of our national anthem? Name who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Those are among the 100 questions on a civics test given to those seeking citizenship that a group led by three former South Carolina governors wants to ask S.C. high school students to take.
The group announced Wednesday – on the 227th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution - they are seeking legislation to offer the test to state high school students and those studying general education development (GED).
Taking the test would not be mandatory under the legislation. And passage of the test would not be required. But those scoring 60 or more on the test would get credit to their final grade point average, organizers said.
According to the Annenberg Public Policy Center, only about one-third of Americans can name the three branches of the United States government, organizers of the S.C. effort say. In Oklahoma and Arizona, studies of high school students showed less than a 4 percent passage rate on the Unites States Citizenship Civics test – the test all immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship must pass.
"It is absolutely critical that all South Carolina students have a sound knowledge of civics," said Dick Riley, a former governor and U.S. Secretary of Education from 1993-2001. "This is not a partisan issue. It is an American issue."
The civics test initiative also was announced in six other states: Arizona, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, South Dakota and Utah.
The USCIS Citizenship Civics test consists of 100 basic questions about American civics and history, such as: What is the name of the President of the United States now? Name one branch or part of the government. What is the capital of your state? Name a state that borders Mexico.
Supporters of the legislation say students could take the test multiple times. The test currently is offered orally to those seeking citizenship and only 10 of the questions are picked by an examiner. To pass, immigrants must give correct answers to at least six of the 10 questions.
For high school students, however, all of the questions would be asked in written form. And a score of 60 or more would earn the student credit for their GPA, though organizers were not specific as to how much credit.
Organizers say it would be up to each school to decide how to administer the test.
The three former governors promoting the legislation are Riley, Jim Hodges and James Edwards. The group also includes business leaders and education activists.
State Sen. John Courson, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he agrees with the initiative and said the proposal, once sponsored, will get "a lot of attention" from his committee.
"It's often I am asked, 'When was the last time you were in the White House to meet with the president? What do you think of this national defense issue?'" Courson said. "There is confusion out there. And I think anything that can instill what we are about as a country, particularly in the climate we live today, would be helpful."
Chip Felkel, a spokesman for the group, said there would be little to no cost for administering the test because it already exists and is available online.
The national effort is being led by former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and actor Joe Mantegna.
The goal nationally, the S.C. supporters say, is to have every state enact the civics test initiative by Sept. 17, 2017, the 230th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
"Understanding basic civics and how our government works needs to be a priority," said Columbia businessman and Honor Flight of SC Chairman Bill Dukes, also a state co-chair. "Civic education will enable us to sustain our constitutional democracy. Our citizens must be informed and responsible. Our free and open society cannot succeed if our citizens don't understand the fundamental values and principles of democracy."