Indiana lawmakers consider requiring students to pass citizenship test

 

 

 

 

 

Indiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would require all high school students in the state to pass the United States citizenship test to graduate.

This kind of legislation has become a growing trend in states across the ｃountry. At least 13 have enacted similar laws since 2015, including Arizona, North Dakota and Kentucky.

The impetus behind the proposed law, some elected officials said, are recent surveys of Americans — especially young Americans — that show a striking lack of knowledge about how the U.S. government functions.

A 2016 study by the University of Pennsylvania, for example, showed that only 26 percent of people could name all three branches of government. And nearly one-third could not name a single branch.

“I think we’re losing out a generation of people,” said Sen. Dennis Kruse, a Republican who drafted the Indiana bill. “We just don’t have people with common knowledge of our government systems anymore — and where we came from.”

Kruse, who is 72, said he remembers civics being an important part of his elementary and high school education. But, at some point, it stopped being taught.

“Somehow, our people today are not getting it,” he said.

… The Joe Foss Institute, and others like it, began pushing for civics education in 2014. And they support bills like the one now before Indiana lawmakers that require students sit for the same test immigrants take to become citizens.

For example, multiple-choice questions ask what Benjamin Franklin is famous for and what two rights in the Declaration of Independence are.

“Our goal is to shine a big bright light on civics and bring it back into schools so it’s taught, funded and tested,” Sparato said. “The citizenship test is a good place to start.”

… S.B. 132 passed the Senate on Jan. 24 with a 31-17 vote. It is awaiting a hearing in the House.

 

Article Source : https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/daily-news-article/indiana-lawmakers-consider-requiring-students-to-pass-citizenship-test/

Image source : https://www.studentnewsdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Indiana-students-citizenship-test-820x547.jpg

 

 

VOCABULARY WORDS:

 

1. enact / verb : to make into an act or statute:

2. impetus / noun : a moving force; impulse; stimulus:

3. draft / verb : to draw the outlines or plan of; sketch.

4. survey / noun : an act or instance of surveying or of taking a comprehensive view of something:

5. civics / noun : the study or science of the privileges and obligations of citizens.

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

 

1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. a) For what reason have lawmakers proposed this bill? Be specific.
b) How did the bill’s author, Republican Sen. Dennis Kruse, explain the reason for the proposed bill?

3. How many other states have enacted similar laws in the past several years?

4. What needs to happen for the bill to become law in Indiana?

5. a) Is the study of Civics part of your state’s required social studies curriculum?
b) What is civics?
c) Why do you think it is important to have an informed citizenry?