Today, I have the honor of being the Constitution Day Speaker for the Kent Gardens Elementary School in McLean, Virginia. A recent poll in Oklahoma City, however, suggests that before we celebrate the Constitution, we may have to explain what it is. This includes gaps in such basis knowledge as “who was the first president of the United States?” Only 23 percent could name George Washington.
In a survey commissioned by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs in observance of Constitution Day Oklahoma students showed an astonishing lack of knowledge about their government — flunking the basic questions needed to become a citizen of the United States.
The students were given 10 questions drawn from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services item bank. In order to become a citizen, you must answer six questions correctly in order to become citizens.
About 92 percent of immigrants who take the citizenship test pass on their first try, but only about 3 percent of the students would have passed. Here is the questions and the percentage of correct answers:
What is the supreme law of the land? 28 percent correct.
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? 26 percent correct.
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? 27 percent correct.
How many justices are there on the Supreme Court? 10 percent correct.
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? 14 percent correct.
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States? 61 percent correct.
What are the two major political parities in the United States? 43 percent correct.
We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? 11 percent correct.
Who was the first President of the United States? 23 percent correct.
Who is in charge of the executive branch? 29 percent correct.
Similar results have been found in other cities.
For the full story, click here.
For the report, click here.
There is a link between ignorance of one’s Constitution, including the 10 commandments in the bill of rights, and a subserviant population. We do not rebel as we should because we no longer understnd what our country’s values truly are. This isn’t entirely an accident. Keeping the people ignorant is part of the media’s job and they do it well. Certainly, few of our politicians want and informed, free people making decisions in our elections. We might fail to uphold people and policies that work against our own interests if we were informed, strong and acted on our rights.
Paul,
You are so correct. Education is not something that should be wasted.
I wonder how many parents will be keeping their kids home from school so they won’t have to be exposed to this!
I grew up in Oklahoma, went to public schools there, graduated high school there. I moved away as a young adult, but I wonder what’s happened to the school system in that state since I left.
I’m about the same age as FormerFederalLeo (judging by his list of characters influencing his childhood), so obviously there have been massive changes, but you have to wonder what’s being taught if not the basics of citizenship.
No wonder Oklahoma is the only state where John McCain won every single county, and the majority of the population still believes that President Obama is not a U.S. citizen.
Good one FFLEO!!! BTW, the govt. will have to kill mespo now that he’s revealed one of Dick’s undisclosed locations!
Criminal Contempt Case Over a Meal Prayer Goes to Trial on National Constitution Day.
http://lc.org/index.cfm?PID=14102&AlertID=1035
Actually Jill, Gawd created the Constitution that everyone should do ever’ mornin’ to remain healthy….’bout 6,000 years ago, after gawd said, “and that was good”
To be fair, it would be understandable if everyone thought we had 1 and 1/2 branches of govt.
Mespo,
Thank you for the open book exam; I will therefore accept a D+.
However, I grew up on 1950s Buster Brown, Froggy the Gremlin, Little Rascals, and, don’t ridicule, Captain Kangaroo n’ Mr. Green Jeans.
Not to mention, Davy Crockett, Pinocchio, etc. and one of my all-time favorite classics, Song of the South with my favorite characters Brer rabbit and Uncle Remus.
Zip-a-dee-doo-dah……
Why wasn’t there any questions about how long ago God wrote the Constitution?
Oh no. Since funny is in the house on this thread, I hate to share this bit of bad news.
Henry Gibson of “Laugh-In” fame has died at 73.
If you aren’t familiar with Mr. Gibson’s arid delivery and dead-pan comic genius, you’ve missed out on a treat. A very, very funny man. I won’t presume to speak for the family, but as a fan, he will be missed.
May the wind be at your back, Henry.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/16/henry-gibson-died-dead-at_n_289369.html
FFLeo:
Well I gave you a hint. It’s SpongeBob Square pants and here’s the video for your “inner child”:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1302479/spongebob_squarepants_help_wanted/
rofl
You’re on fire this AM, mespo. Mrs. Mespo must be treating you right. 😉
Clifford Rees,
Good job and good luck.
JT:
“I seriously may ask the students today “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” after asking them the citizenship questions.”
***************
Well, it is a control question on the CIA exam you know, along with, “How much is that doggie in the window?”
I have the similar honor of speaking to my daughter’s 5th grade class at Pinon Elementary School in Santa Fe, New Mexico again today. I acutually started the class on Monday with a discussion of the Revolutionary War leading to the drafting of the Constitution and a review of the 3 branches of government. Today I’ll conclude with a discussion of the Bill of Rights. While some of the students didn’t know who was the first President, one young scholar very quickly identified the birthplace of the Governor of California as Austria!
SF Atty
Okay Mespo, I missed your question; however, I do not have a TV, so do you grade on a curve?
Speaking of sponges, good luck at filling all those little brains with the right ideas about freedom, liberty and the Constitution, Prof. There might be another Jefferson, Adams or Madison waiting for inspiration. You might live to hear, “I’d have never considered a life of public service if not for hearing Jonathan Turley speak at my elementary school.”
But no pressure. 😀
I bet you’ll get a 100% correct response to the timeless question, “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?”
Answer for the uninitiated:
http://partmule.com/blog16/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/sponge_bob.jpg
Mespo:
I seriously may ask the students today “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” after asking them the citizenship questions.
Professor,
I’m sure you will have a lot of fun. If you want to instill a memory that will last a lifetime, you might want to elicit a correct answer–or better give it, as the stats suggest, but this works for kids and adults alike. It’s easier to remember to add a beat. Take one thing you want them to remember, like it’s Constitution Day. Pick a beat of a song you think they know, which is best, because a tune is better. But if not..We used a book called Jazz Chants to teach EFL. You will even wake up the sleepy ones.
Of course, it’s arrogant of me to make suggestions to you, but having worked in a law school, seems you Professors actually appreciate a bit of arrogance—-loaded with respect and a pinch of humility in knowing my place is lowly.
You are probably gone by now, but if not: Have fun. And break a leg. Sweet tides, linda
Happy Day and hope you get your car washed.