ARIZONA STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS A CIVICS TEST TO GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL

A new Arizona law requiring all high school students to pass a civics test before they can graduate will become effective at the start of the new school year in 2016

A new law goes into effect at the start of the new school year in 2016 which requires that all Arizona students must pass a 100 question civics test in order to graduate from high school. To pass, they must get at least 60 of the multiple-choice questions right. The test is similar to the tests given to immigrants applying for U.S. citizenship. Several other states are in the process of passing laws similar to the Arizona law.

I have long complained about the dropping of courses like civics and geography from the high school curriculum in order to accommodate courses in diversity and multi-culturalism. This test will force schools to reestablish courses like civics and geography.

Here is a sample of 10 questions from the Arizona test:

1. How many amendments does the Constitution have?
12, 27, 35 or 42

2. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
4, 8, 6 or 10

3. We elect a president for how many years?
4, 12, 8 or 5

4. What is the name of the president of the United States now?
Obama, Ford, Clinton or Bush

5. If the president can no longer serve, who becomes president?
Chief of staff, the vice president, secretary of state, lead general

6. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the constitution?
The Bill of Rights, the Ten Commandments, the Bill of Lading or the List of Ten

7. Which is a right or freedom from the First Amendment?
Right to vote, right to avoid taxes, right to free exercise of religion and right to bear arms

8. What was the purpose of the Declaration of Independence?
Formed an alliance with South America, announced our independence from Great Britain, announced our independence from Germany or freed the slaves

9. Before he was president, Eisenhower was a general. What war was he in?
World War II, World War I, Civil War

10. Name one state that borders Canada.
California, Idaho, Ohio or Massachusetts

The standardized tests now given public school students as a means of evaluating teachers have led the teachers to teach to the tests. I’m afraid they will do the same with the new civics test.