A bill requiring students to pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Civics Test as a condition of high school graduation passed the Iowa Senate on Monday with bipartisan support.
Senate File 369 passed through the chamber 38-7, with all seven votes in opposition to the bill coming from Democrats.
However, two Democrats spoke in favor of the bill on the floor. Democrat State Sen. Tony Bisignano said he supports the bill because his father left Italy to escape the fascist government and loved American democracy more than anything else about America.
Bisignano said it’s almost an elective today if young people even want to understand the type of government America has.
Later in life, Bisignano was told by his father that Americans are lazy about their government and they believe they are entitled to democracy. And he added that at some point, the country would be challenged to protect democracy, and most people won’t even be able to understand it.
Bisignano said the bill makes sense and any kinks would be worked out. But the premise of the legislation is making sure Americans understand the government they have and how to protect it.
“Because as we can see, it’s not guaranteed,” he said.
Democrat State Sen. Zach Wahls also spoke in support of the bill. Wahls said that civics education is at the heart of the public education system not just in Iowa but across the country.
Republican State Sen. Dan Dawson spoke in support of the bill and expressed concern about statistics showing high school graduates don’t have the understanding of how the American government is to function.
Democrat State Sen. Molly Donahue spoke against the bill. She said social studies have been treated as an after-thought. Donahue added that there is now a generation of students who lack a deep understanding of history, government, economics and their place in our society.
This citizenship test, she said, is an attempt at a “quick fix.”
Democrat State Sen. Art Staed said students shouldn’t have to pass the test to graduate because the test relies on memorization with “minimal critical thinking.” Staed said it does little to prepare young people for thoughtful civic engagement.
Instead of passing this bill, Staed said the legislature should be addressing the real problem students in public schools are facing – underfunding.
Republican State Sen. Jesse Green managed the bill through the Senate and noted Iowa will become the 23rd state with such a requirement. He called it a step in the right direction, though there’s more that can be done. Green added he hopes strengthening the understanding students have of civics will help bridge the divide seen in today’s political climate.
Democrat State Senators Matt Blake, Molly Donahue, Janet Petersen, Herman Quirmbach, Art Staed, Thomas Townsend and Janice Weiner voted against the bill.
A great bill. Even Illinois requires a Constitution test to graduate high school. The bill does NOT exempt private schools.