Test scores in history and civics have declined slightly for eighth grade students in the U.S., according to results that show an increasing number of children lack a basic understanding of either subject.
Updating results
New Jersey has a state fruit — the blueberry — but not a state muffin. However, if a young woman there has her way, the blueberry muffin will take its place among the Garden State's symbols. And in Washington state, there's a bill to make the Suciasaurus Rex the official state dinosaur. Regardless of the number or variety of state symbols, they just keep on coming. Many are under consideration by legislatures in the upcoming sessions.
There are 100 questions on the civics section of the U.S. citizenship test. Can you answer them all correctly?
Officials prepare for drought in the West
Valuable mission statement
Commentary: A democratic society, if it is to persevere, must be comprised of people with democratic dispositions.
Editor's note: This Letter has been updated.
Student would prefer that
Recent studies show that many Americans lack a basic understanding of how our government works. We find this alarming — and disturbing. So RTD…
Teaching for test-taking
Several states require high school students to pass a civics test in order to graduate. Which got us to thinking — how difficult would these questions be? In order to become a naturalized citizen, applicants must correctly answer 6 of 10 questions from the list of 100 questions. Here is a sampling of some of those questions. We re-worded them a bit — test yourself!
Putting civics lessons
A creative way to improve school funding has made it out of committee.
Everybody loves seeing how dumb other people are, so this Tweet naturally rocketed around the Twitterverse: