Independence Daze

There was a sad, but timely, reminder today of the state of high school education in Arizona.  It seems that The Goldwater Institute conducted a study of 1350 high schools students to ascertain how much they knew on civics.  The basis of the survey was the questionnaire used by USCIS  (U.S Citizens and Immigration Services) to test applicants who wish to become citizens.  The prospective citizens must score at least six out of ten, from a pool of one hundred questions that they have been allowed to study ahead of time, in order to pass.  Of this, more in a moment.  From the AZ Republic,

Among the 1,134 Arizona public-school students responding, not a single one correctly answered more than seven correctly. With six correct answers needed for a passing grade, just 3.5 percent managed it. 

Not a single one.  Doesn’t that make you feel proud?  How about this?

If that isn’t discouraging enough for you, consider that almost 93 percent of the foreign-born applicants for citizenship who take the same test pass it the first time.

Here are the questions, before you get too irate.

1. What is the supreme law of the land?

2. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution?

3. What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?

4. How many Justices are on the Supreme Court?

5. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

6. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States?

7. What are the two major political parties in the United States?

8. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?

9. Who was the first president?

10. Who is in charge of the executive branch?

For all the answers, and a detailed look at the results of the study, click here.  For the record, I scored ten out of ten, and here’s why.  Last year, I was privileged to become a citizen of this country after 25 years as a legal resident, so naturally I spent many hours being coached by Mrs Gabfest in order that I might be able to post a perfect score when quizzed by USCIS officials.  And I did, scoring six out of six at my interview.  However, I have two observations that I would like to make regarding the process.  Firstly, the Hispanic lady in front of me was provided with an interpreter, which completely goes against the whole basis of immigration and citizenship.  You are supposed to demonstrate, at the very least, some fluency in English so to use an interpreter seems counter intuitive to me.  Also, when she was returned to the waiting room, the official announced to the waiting family members that although she had passed, she had been unable to name the supreme law of the land.  The Constitution.  She passed anyway.  Nice low bar we have set for citizenship, huh?

For my part, I also noted this.  When it was my turn to be tested, I was seated across the desk from my questioner.  I discovered that as he read the questions to me from a piece of paper on his desk, I was able to read along with him, albeit the questions were upside down.  I was also able to discern the answers, upside down of course, directly underneath although in a slightly smaller font.  I declined to cheat and looked the man straight in the eye, but it made me realize how absurdly simple we have made it to attain the most prized possession in the world…the right to call yourself an American.

Some thoughtful commentary over at Big Hollywood. 

More thoughts at Hot Air

A little quiet over on the Patterico front.

  • Share/Bookmark

July 4, 2009  Tags: , ,   Posted in: Goofy

One Response

  1. Gazzer’s Gabfest » They told me if I voted for John McCain, I would get an idiot for Vice-President…and they were right. - July 6, 2009

    [...] who were sworn in as new citizens.  A process with which I am proud to be familiar, as I wrote here.  Bear in mind, these are folks who not only wanted to become a part of the “Great [...]

Leave a Reply