US civics scores show the REAL threat to democracy

[40 years of liberal education]

<https://nypost.com/2023/05/06/us-civics-scores-show-the-real-threat-to-
democracy/>

Can a democracy survive if its youth know nothing about government or
civic participation?

The United States is about to find out.

The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (a k
a the nation’s report card) show that almost a third of 8th graders can’t
describe the basic functions of our government.

The nationwide average score on the 8th-grade NAEP civics test fell to
where it was in 1998 when it was first administered.

Scores in history were below the 1994 first-year level.

We’re back where we started, in other words, with billions of taxpayer
dollars spent and literally less than zero to show for it.

Shed a tear for the American Experiment.

The NAEP civics scores have been mediocre from the start, but had shown
signs of upward movement this century.

Then came the pandemic, and mass school closures.

The result?

In civics, 79% are below the “proficient” benchmark.

Only 2% are advanced.

In history, 86% of students scored below proficient, and only 1% scored
advanced.

The history scores have actually been slipping down since 2014, well
before COVID.

Blame the growing emphasis on woke nonsense over actual instruction.

Indeed, poisonous ideologies like critical race theory teach kids that
America itself is irredeemably evil.

Can you think of a better way to destroy any interest in — let alone of
love of — country among kids?

The dismal NAEP results on reading and math, released weeks ago, are bad
enough.

They mean that our schools are failing our kids, who will enter adult life
unprepared to succeed.

The civics and history scores suggest that the basic fabric of American
democracy is eroding.

Apathy and ignorance are not compatible with a participatory democracy.

They cede the field to the kind of hucksters and charlatans — from Trump
to AOC — that characterize our contemporary politics.

Teachers unions and educrats won’t demand anything like real instruction.
Turning this disaster around is up to Americans who actually care about
education — and democracy.

Indeed, here’s a test to try at home: Next time a politician (cough, Joe
Biden) pontificates on “threats to our democracy,” listen for even a
mention of this one.

[Charlie Glock]

Post by 40 years of liberal education
<https://nypost.com/2023/05/06/us-civics-scores-show-the-real-threat-to-
democracy/>
Can a democracy survive if its youth know nothing about government or
civic participation?
The United States is about to find out.
The latest data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (a k
a the nation’s report card) show that almost a third of 8th graders can’t
describe the basic functions of our government.
The nationwide average score on the 8th-grade NAEP civics test fell to
where it was in 1998 when it was first administered.
Scores in history were below the 1994 first-year level.
We’re back where we started, in other words, with billions of taxpayer
dollars spent and literally less than zero to show for it.
Shed a tear for the American Experiment.
The NAEP civics scores have been mediocre from the start, but had shown
signs of upward movement this century.
Then came the pandemic, and mass school closures.
The result?
In civics, 79% are below the “proficient” benchmark.
Only 2% are advanced.
In history, 86% of students scored below proficient, and only 1% scored
advanced.
The history scores have actually been slipping down since 2014, well
before COVID.
Blame the growing emphasis on woke nonsense over actual instruction.
Indeed, poisonous ideologies like critical race theory teach kids that
America itself is irredeemably evil.
Can you think of a better way to destroy any interest in — let alone of
love of — country among kids?
The dismal NAEP results on reading and math, released weeks ago, are bad
enough.
They mean that our schools are failing our kids, who will enter adult life
unprepared to succeed.
The civics and history scores suggest that the basic fabric of American
democracy is eroding.
Apathy and ignorance are not compatible with a participatory democracy.
They cede the field to the kind of hucksters and charlatans — from Trump
to AOC — that characterize our contemporary politics.
Teachers unions and educrats won’t demand anything like real instruction.
Turning this disaster around is up to Americans who actually care about
education — and democracy.
Indeed, here’s a test to try at home: Next time a politician (cough, Joe
Biden) pontificates on “threats to our democracy,” listen for even a
mention of this one.

Every year on holidays like "The 4th of July" there are segments on TV where a reporter goes to a
public place and asks basic questions like "What does the 4th of July represent?" Or "what war
gained our independence"?

And people can't answer these basic questions.

It really gets sad when the reporter is on a major college campus and is asking students these type
of questions.
I'll bet these same people can tell you who is in the finals on "Dancing With The Stars".

It's very sad.

[!Jones]

On Sun, 07 May 2023 14:39:59 GMT, in talk.politics.guns Charlie Glock

Post by Charlie Glock
Every year on holidays like "The 4th of July" there are segments on TV where a reporter goes to a
public place and asks basic questions like "What does the 4th of July represent?" Or "what war
gained our independence"?
And people can't answer these basic questions.

That isn't really a fair assessment; although, I don't doubt that a
fair one would, also, be abysmal. Suddenly shoving a camera and
microphone into someone's face and firing unexpected questions at them
is not evidence of anything, though. 50% of respondents wouldn't be
able to give their phone number under those conditions.

[Klaus Schadenfreude]

Post by !Jones
On Sun, 07 May 2023 14:39:59 GMT, in talk.politics.guns Charlie Glock

Post by Charlie Glock
Every year on holidays like "The 4th of July" there are segments on TV where a reporter goes to a
public place and asks basic questions like "What does the 4th of July represent?" Or "what war
gained our independence"?
And people can't answer these basic questions.

That isn't really a fair assessment; although, I don't doubt that a
fair one would, also, be abysmal. Suddenly shoving a camera and
microphone into someone's face and firing unexpected questions at them
is not evidence of anything, though. 50% of respondents wouldn't be
able to give their phone number under those conditions.

You mean *you* couldn't-- but then again-- you probably couldn't if
given the entire day to think about it.

[Shannon Leveridge]

Post by Klaus Schadenfreude

Post by !Jones
On Sun, 07 May 2023 14:39:59 GMT, in talk.politics.guns Charlie Glock

Post by Charlie Glock
Every year on holidays like "The 4th of July" there are segments on
TV where a reporter goes to a public place and asks basic questions
like "What does the 4th of July represent?" Or "what war gained our
independence"?
And people can't answer these basic questions.

That isn't really a fair assessment; although, I don't doubt that a
fair one would, also, be abysmal. Suddenly shoving a camera and
microphone into someone's face and firing unexpected questions at them
is not evidence of anything, though. 50% of respondents wouldn't be
able to give their phone number under those conditions.

You mean *you* couldn't-- but then again-- you probably couldn't if
given the entire day to think about it.

Yah, he flunked using google in jail six times.

[Governor Swill]

Post by Charlie Glock
Every year on holidays like "The 4th of July" there are segments on TV where a reporter goes to a
public place and asks basic questions like "What does the 4th of July represent?" Or "what war
gained our independence"?
And people can't answer these basic questions.
It really gets sad when the reporter is on a major college campus and is asking students these type
of questions.
I'll bet these same people can tell you who is in the finals on "Dancing With The Stars".
It's very sad.

I agree. Every election cycle there's a similar report from a bar, park or literally, "on
the street". Nobody whose hair hasn't turned gray can answer even the most basic
questions.

Swill
--
"Poison is running through our democracy and parts of the extreme press. Truth, buried by lies.
and lies living on as truth. Lies told for profit and power. Lies and conspiracy and malice
repeated over and over and over again, designed to generate a cycle of hate and even violence.
A cycle that emboldens, history to be buried, books to be banned, children and families to be
attacked by the State, the rule of law and our rights and freedoms to be stripped away.
Where elected representatives of the people are expelled from Statehouses for standing for the people.
I've made clear that we know in our bones, and you know it too, our democracy remains at risk.
But I've also made it clear, as I've seen throughout my life, it's within our power, each and every one of us
to preserve our democracy. We can, we must, we will." -- President Biden at the 2023 Whitehouse Correspondent's Dinner

Heroyam slava! Glory to the Heroes!

Sláva Ukrajíni! Glory to Ukraine! Putin is a condom!

Go here to donate to Ukrainian relief.
<https://www2.deloitte.com/ua/uk/pages/registration-forms/help-cities.html>

[Hiram Jackson]

Post by 40 years of liberal education
<https://nypost.com/2023/05/06/us-civics-scores-show-the-real-threat-to-
democracy/>

Civics went down the drain for good when they started teaching children that
Trump lost the 2020 election and is no longer our President.


The Framers would have believed in Trump and his 2020 victory, so you must
too.