I just had to post this after I found this while posting to another discussion I'd started. The previous thread was about how 25% of Oklahoma high school students didn't know who the first President of the United States had been and in a related article I also discovered only 3% of those student could have passed the test given to immigrants wishing to become citizens. I'm proud to say I knew them all...lol! In order to become a U.S. citizen one must answer 6 out of the 10 questions correctly. Here they are:
What is the supreme law of the land?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
How many justices are there on the Supreme Court?
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States?
What are the two major political parities in the United States?
We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?
Who was the first President of the United States?
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
To be fair to the OK kids, it was stated there had been similar results in Arizona so it's probably a good bet the rest of the states wouldn't fare too great either!
So, are you smarter than a 12th grader?
Annie
[question posted by anniepa]responses and comments:
hmmm i don't think i can get all the questions right but i think i can get 6 out of ten. this is a pretty easy test. i'm from canada and i have no problems with most of them. Except the one about the amendments question. [satan88]
Do you mean the one that asks what the first ten amendments are called? That would be the Bill of Rights. I think you're doing fine for a Canadian! I know almost nothing about your government...lol! Annie [anniepa]
::: Patting myself on the back:: Yup, I got 'em all 2. ;~D [ParaTed2k]
I wouldn't have expected anything less from you, Ted. Pat away! Annie [anniepa]
When I became a citizen I took the test. Not only did it have questions about national things but there were several about the state in which I took the test - Illinois. I once took the test to try and get a job working in our local post office. I passed it with the highest score of the people who took that particular test at that time but did not get the job. The man who got the job had a far lower score than me, claimed points for being a veteran and still with that did not equal my score and he eventually became postmaster. Nothing has changed over the years - its not a case of what you know but who you know. [us2owls]
OF COURSE someone like that became postmaster! I worked for the USPS for 18 years and it was always known that those who couldn't (or wouldn't) do the actual WORK ended up going into management. That explains a lot, doesn't it? My first postmaster and the one who hired me told me in 1987 when I had my first (unsuccessful) interview that when a position became available the PM was given a list of the top five scorers who had listed that particular office or branch as where they wished to be considered for hire. They would generally interview them all and choose from them, not necessarily the one with the highest score, which includes the bonus points veterans receive. HOWEVER, if there was a veteran in that group and he or she passed the physical and met all the other requirements (driving record, not a convicted felon, etc.) that veteran MUST be hired even if he or she had the lowest score. A veteran got the position I was originally interviewed for. He was in his fifties and had "bad knees" but he still "technically" passed the physical so against his better judgment the PM had to hire him. Three months later I was called for another interview because this veteran failed to pass his 90 day probation period. Delivering mail, especially when most of the routes are 100% on foot and in an area where the winters are pretty brutal is a demanding job and it wasn't the idea position for a 50+ year old guy with knee problems! I was in my early thirties and in good shape and it was quite a workout for me at first! I'm not sure if it's still exactly like this now but that's how it was in 1987. Annie [anniepa]
my parents and brother and several aunts and uncles are immigrants in the usa. they all passed the test given them to be naturalized citizens. i think, the problem now with kids is they do not read enough. their priorities are very different from the priorities of those who want to pass that naturalization test. there is no point of comparison. [lafayette]
Lafayette, I think you're absolutely right. However, I think it's sad that our kids aren't being taught the most basic U.S. history these days. My granddaughter also loves to read. Her class was required to read 25 books last school year and she read over 100! Annie [anniepa]
Hi anniepa. My parents came home from California three years ago and they brought cereals in boxes that contain information about the good old USA. My daughter, amused, asked my parents the questions to find out if my parents are worthy of being American citizens. The questions are just about the same as the ones you listed. Except for the supreme law and G. Washington, the only other thing they know is the Star-spangled Banner. So I asked my mother, what questions were she asked. She said... they asked me if I could read and write. She said yes. Then she was given a paper to write her name. She wrote her name legibly (my mother has good penmanship). Then they said "Congratulations, you are now an American citizen."w00t [eileenleyva]
Two decades ago. [eileenleyva]
I learned these things out of school. Only a few of the obvious (not-so these days lol) were actually taught to me in classrooms. I do hope that schools are teaching children these things ... plus a lot more! Not for nothing, but schools seem to be all about teaching guilt and sympathy and ways to cope with your feelings. A lot of what I learned in school was better ways to treat other people and how religion was basically immoral (true story!!!). Okay, some people may not have a problem with this. But it brings up an extremely relevant question, regardless of what you believe. Should schools be teaching morality lessons or actual math, history, science (real science -- not the to-spite-religion science I was taught), business and computer skills, etc? I know things are a little different all over, but in my school, which I attended in the 90s, we were more or less parented and "knowledge" was extremely relative, depending on how good you felt about yourself. Shiny, happy people. ...... I was talking to my mom a few months ago about that crazy texting commercial where the family is talking in acronyms (I didn't learn that word until high school!): OMG, BFF, etc. She asked, "What is that? Is it more convenient?" I told her that it wasn't a language created by computer-loving kids out of convenience, but out of necessity because schools weren't teaching them how to READ AND WRITE. I hope I'm wrong there. I don't have any kids to grill when they get home. I only know how I was coddled in school. [matersfish]
My social studies teacher (11th grade) had his "brilliant" idea for punishment. If you spoke out in class, acted up, failed to turn in your work, etc, he would put you in the back closet for 15 minutes, during which time he would speak LOUDLY to the class about how much of a distraction one person can be to the group, and that all "teaching" would stop until the disobedient student came back. He would set up a peer review, asking random students to address the forsaken when he or she returned, spouting off your feelings about rouge behavior and how it damages the process. It was all too weird for me. My math teacher (Balki from Perfect Strangers! lmao) had a different system entirely. He would write you up and ship you to the principal's office. Balki had a kid act out every week, Mr. Sensitive had about 3 kids a day in the loveless room of disgrace. I kept my Sony Walkman back there. 15 minutes of bliss. [matersfish]
Could YOU Pass the U.S. Citizenship Test? Yes I could and did. When I was studying US History I would sometimes ask my friends and colleagues for help.... that was a big mistake! As far as presidents their knowledge was scanty to say the least but as far as the length of terms in office for senators, congressmen, etc. that was a shocker... about 90% did not have a clue! [whiteheather39]
That is very sad, isn't it? I've heard stories for years about how only a very small percentage of Americans even know who their own Senators or Congressmen are and many don't even know who the Vice President is at any given time! Annie [anniepa]
what was the average number they got right? i got 5, which hardly matters as i have no intention of moving to the states (no cheering from people i disagree with please). [jb78000]
Gee, there's not much left for me to add... Annie [anniepa]
When I graduated high school it was the last class that didn't have to take the state test, here we call it OGT (Ohio Graduation Test). But, we had to take it because the rest of the school had to take it. The test for 4 parts; Math, Writing, Reading and Citizenship. A few of the questions that you asked were on the test. I hate to sound like a conservative here but, lol Bush had the right idea with "NCLB" it just went astray with the feds involving themselves with it. [ZephyrSun]
"You lot SERIOUSLY lack a sense of humor." Well, I can't speak for all of us but I can tell you that I get rather fed up with conservatives lumping liberals into one group. It gets very old. [ZephyrSun]
dunno bout it. I am not US Citizen if what you posted is true, means the education in your country is in danger the youth should have a little more extra on the country [solatjumat]
I agree, they sure should learn more about their own country! Annie [anniepa]
I found it really easy, Annie. I hope I'm not too unusual for that. Joanne [cobrateacher]
I'm afraid you are too unusual since I feel every American past fifth or sixth grade should know them all! Maybe that's just me... Annie [anniepa]
Back in the day (gawd, I hate that phrase!) we were taught this stuff in school...and I also drilled 4 kids in this area so they could pass the state tests for graduation so, yeppers, I got them all right! [spalladino]
I know what you mean, my grandkids think that "back in the day" meant back when we still had covered wagons...lol! I'm quite pleased and proud to report I did my own unscientific survey at the Midget Football game yesterday and asked several dozen kids between fifth and eight grades who the first President was and every one knew it! I have no idea if that's indicative of my whole state but it makes me feel good about the school district my grandkids attend! Annie [anniepa]
I reckon 7 or 8. Absolutely no use to me though as I will not moving to the US any time soon. My problem is that, if they do not throw me out before then, I intend applying for German nationality in 2013 (10 unbroken years after coming here - the second time). For that I need to answer 25 questions (multiple choice, 4 each question), and prove that I can speak German. The latter would not be a problem now. [astonysh]
I'd say that's GREAT for someone who doesn't even live here! I think we Americans may be quite arrogant at times in that we often expect people from other nations to know our language and our history when we barely know our own let alone anyone else's...lol! Annie [anniepa]
I knew them all. Heck my 6 year old knows some them. He can tell you who the first president of the US was. He learned that in kindergarten.He also knows which Ocean is one the east coast of the country. They have already covered that this year in first grade. It just shows how bad our schools are failing our kids. I think anyone above the 7th grade should be able to answer them all. The fact that they can't reflects more on our school system than them. [lilwonders456]
Absolutely, lil, it's not the kids' fault. I mean, if it were only a small number of students from any particular state or region who didn't know these things then it could be blamed on the fact that some kids just don't care but when it's three out of four it's pathetic. In OK it was only 2 out of 100 who could answer 6 of the questions I posted here! Annie [anniepa]
I can and I've known these answers since high school when I helped a friend from South Africa study for and pass the test. Frankly this test should be taught to all high school students (no, not federally mandated) so they can understand what it means to be a citizen of this country the same way those who legally immigrate here do. Far too many people take their citizenship for granted here. [Taskr36]
Something like this shouldn't have to be federally mandated but IF a state decides it's not important maybe it should be, in my view. You're so right, too many people take their citizenship for granted. Annie [anniepa]
I'm embarrassed to say I missed two of them, but, at least, I can be a citizen. [6precious102]
Trust me, you have no reason to be embarrassed...lol! Annie [anniepa]
Well, I really hold no interest in ever havign american citizenship someday but here are my answers anyway: 1. Freedom for all? 2. The same ones as in the bible? Or were those commandements? :) 3. Eastern and Western? 4. I'd risk 3. 5. Erm...Abraham Lincoln. Or George Washington. Certainly not Orson Wells? ;) 6. Atlantic Ocean (yay!) 7. Democratic Party and Republican Party (double yay!) 8. Um, 5? 9. Abraham Lincoln or George Washington again :S 10. The Minster of Finances? Not.. Okay, I'm hangover and couldn't be more random, not this dumb ;D [Eisenherz]
You're right...certainly not Orson Wells...lol! Annie [anniepa]
I'm sorry to say I only got nine right. Isn't it a shame that anyone educated in the United States wouldn't know who the first President was? I've been out of school for 39 years. What do they teach now? Many want to blame the students, but I think the educational system has to answer for a lot of the problem. [bestboy19]
Since I have no plan to go somewhere else in the United State although I dream that when I was a kid. Now, that I am old and that dream is change. I don't need to pass that , my friend...have a nice day! [aerous]
1. The Constitution 2. Bill of Rights 3. Senate and House of Representatives 4. 9 justices (I'll add more for bonus points! FDR wanted to water it down to 15) 5. Thomas Jefferson drafted it 6. Atlantic 7. Republican, Democrat 8. 6 years 9. George Washington 10. The President [K46620]
I'm glad I knew all the answers as well. It is sad that our children are busy being dumbed down in the schools. Horrific, really, that they know little to nothing about our country, its true history, world history, geography, oh, yeah, "readin', writin', and 'rithmetic", as we used to say in the olden times. This dumbing down is by design of radicals like Bill Ayers and others at U of Chicago, as, for years they have been successful in indoctrinating our children and making our schools political and economic tools. Our Textbooks are being rewritten to be "politically correct" and are known not be factually correct. I have watched over the years as a teacher and as a mother and it's scary. When my friend's children were in middle school, they were given a "values clarification" course in which they had to fill out evaluation forms re their parents and any other "authority" figures in their lives. They were asked who made their decisions for them - they themselves, their parents, or a "higher authority", as in God. They had to judge their parents on their anger responses. This instead of academics. What we were subjected to in the way of challenging family values and God in college is now way down at elementary level, not to mention sex ed., classes on smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. which do not give a moral message of abstain, but appeal to the curiosity and "prurient interests, (so to speak), of innocent children. My own children told me they did not want to "study" these things and I believe they need to be taught (about) them at home, within a moral context. Scripture warns us not to "study" evil, but to run from it. But, it has been the agenda of the above mentioned radicals and complicity of the NEA to undermine the authority and influence of the family, religion, God, etc. When I went to public school, we had scripture from Psalms read to us in assembly. Now that is verboten. Instead loud rock or hip-hop music is blared at them, movies with objectionable language are shown, etc. My friend's daughter came home from ninth grade with her world history materials and was told that they could not be taught in class that day, because they were observing "gay day" instead. Our schools have become intellectual wastelands and moral sewers. Guess who would not be able to pass the citizenship test? Why, Barack Hussein Obama, who is not legally a citizen (holding Indonesian citizenship, which precludes American citizenship). Although he did get a FREE college and law school eduction here as a foreign exchange student, in part, courtesy of Arab supporters and money and American generosity, he thinks there are 57 states in this country. [epicure35]