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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A House committee has approved a bill that would require Missouri high school students to pass a civics exam similar to the U.S. naturalization test in order to graduate.
The Southeast Missourian (http://bit.ly/1TSwrNk ) reports that the bill would require students entering ninth grade after July 1, 2017, to pass such a test.
Swan said high school graduates should have the same basic knowledge of the country's history and government as naturalized citizens, who must pass a 100-question test.
Jackson School District Superintendent Dr. John Link said high school students in Missouri already take several civics-related exams through government-class curriculum. He says a better approach would be improving existing curriculum and testing as well as focusing on giving students critical thinking skills so they know how to access information.
But calls for civics exams continue to be raised across the county. Last year, nine states passed measures to enact such testing. This year, 23 states, including Missouri, are considering similar legislation promoted by the Civics Education Initiative.
Lucian Spataro, who leads the civics effort and other educational initiatives for the Joe Foss Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona, said surveys in recent years have shown that Americans lack knowledge of civics, geography and history.
"Kids are growing up, and they are not civically engaged," Spataro said.
He said the solution is testing, and that it should be tied to graduation or performance for school funding.
"There is an adage in education that if it is tested, it is taught," Spataro said.
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Information from: Southeast Missourian, http://www.semissourian.com
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