One staple quiz shared on Facebook asks American citizens if they could pass the test about United States history and government that's required of people seeking to become naturalized citizens.
Representative Dean Urdahl (R- Grove City), a retired high school social studies teacher, thinks that Minnesotans should be able to pass that same test in order to graduate from high school.
At the Litchfield Independent Review, Jenny Berg reports in Should passing a civics test be a graduation requirement?:
. . . local students, along with all students from across Minnesota, may soon have to pass one more test in order to graduate — a 100-question multiple-choice test on the principles of democracy, citizens’ rights and responsibilities, and American history.
“What I’m trying to do is elevate the level of civic awareness in the state,” said Rep. Dean Urdahl, R-Acton Township, who is introducing the bill at the Capitol. “... I believe we have a growing crisis on knowledge in our country regarding our republic and democracy.”
The test, which would be implemented in an upcoming school year if Urdahl’s bill becomes law, is modeled after the naturalization test immigrants take to become U.S. citizens. While U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requires immigrants to verbally answer six of 10 questions correct, Urdahl’s bill would require students pass the multiple-choice test with 60 of 100 questions correct.
“This is what we expect naturalized citizens to know. If we expect naturalized citizens to know it, shouldn’t we expect all citizens to know it?” he asked.
Good question.
The bill hasn't been introduced yet, but will show up here when Representative Urdahl puts it "in the hopper."
Photo: New American citizens, via the Star Tribune.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Comments