Arizona students must pass US citizenship test on civics

[KRonn]

One of my favorite courses in high school was on the government, civics, how things work in the three main branches of federal govt, state govt, the courts, etc. It at least gave some instruction so kids had a basis to go on to understand how things work in government. I think it's a good idea, though I don't recall if it was a required course or not.

[garbon]

Monstrous?

No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this.

Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona.

Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.

I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.

Seriously!

Okay, I exaggerated. In 8th grade, I had half a year of bio. After that though, I stuck exclusively to chemistry and physics. I had no desire to participate in dissections.

[garbon]

One of my favorite courses in high school was on the government, civics, how things work in the three main branches of federal govt, state govt, the courts, etc. It at least gave some instruction so kids had a basis to go on to understand how things work in government. I think it's a good idea, though I don't recall if it was a required course or not.

From what I recall, we touched upon those things in Social Studies classes (which I guess were civics + history) but there was no citizenship examination afterward.

[Syt]

Agreed but that doesn't seem related to this required civics course.

I was inspired by this article quote: "if our students don't understand that we have fundamental rights given to us, afforded to us by our Constitution"

I don't find fault with the idea of educating students in this, but that if you take that angle, I don't think it's going far enough in life preparation.

[The Brain]

Monstrous?

No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this.

Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona.

Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.

I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.

Seriously!

Okay, I exaggerated. In 8th grade, I had half a year of bio. After that though, I stuck exclusively to chemistry and physics. I had no desire to participate in dissections.

What kind of limp-wristed faggot doesn't like dissections? Oh right.

[garbon]

Agreed but that doesn't seem related to this required civics course.

I was inspired by this article quote: "if our students don't understand that we have fundamental rights given to us, afforded to us by our Constitution"

I don't find fault with the idea of educating students in this, but that if you take that angle, I don't think it's going far enough in life preparation.

I don't have an issue with students knowing that either (like I said it was generally part of social studies class) but I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate. But hey, I'm just someone posting on the internet. I'm sure the Arizona legislature is very well informed on what their students need.

Thing for me about your comment is that I don't really think life preparation is the point. Here's a link to what a civics class covers. That's a bit different from the sort of class you are talking about.

http://nieonline.com/detroit/downloads/supplements/civics_flip_book.pdf

[Syt]

I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate

I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.

[Admiral Yi]

I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.

Except that presumably the ZOMG immigrants are being taught the answers to the test in the same class the red bloods are.

[Syt]

I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.

Except that presumably the ZOMG immigrants are being taught the answers to the test in the same class the red bloods are.

But it's to ensure that ZOMG immigrants are taught them in the first place, to make sure the evil indoctrination by their ZOMG immigrant community is countered.

[KRonn]

One of my favorite courses in high school was on the government, civics, how things work in the three main branches of federal govt, state govt, the courts, etc. It at least gave some instruction so kids had a basis to go on to understand how things work in government. I think it's a good idea, though I don't recall if it was a required course or not.

From what I recall, we touched upon those things in Social Studies classes (which I guess were civics + history) but there was no citizenship examination afterward.

The citizen test does seem a bit unnecessary if kids are getting educated on this in school already. The article didn't really say if this stuff is taught or required learning. If state education officials feel the  kids aren't getting the info then I don't find it a big deal to teach and test on it. What I don't like is if this become some kind of jingoism or something to test on it. I'd rather see the state education dept make some requirements or standards to teach it, if it's lacking in schools now.

[Martinus]

To be honest I don't have any beef whatsoever with an idea that every citizen of a certain educational degree (i.e. high school) should take the citizenship at least once. It's much better than just having foreigners take it, while having the domestic populace who can't take it.

[Martinus]

I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate

I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.

This looks like bias.

[garbon]

I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate

I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.

This looks like bias.

Look at Arizona's track record. Why shouldn't someone be biased?

[Martinus]

But this kind of knee-jerk dumb reaction of that triggers when one sees "Arizona" and "citizenship" in the same place is what gives liberals a bad name.

Most likely this is the only reason why someone thought it is news in the first place.

[grumbler]

The citizenship test is completely bogus.  It tests things that no one will ever need or use, but which are easy to test, like what year the Constitution was written, how many house members there are, or which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.  It's a mere trivia contest.  Republicans legislators love it, though, because they can do well on pass/fail memorization tests, unlike essay tests that require demonstrating some understanding of a subject.