The House Education Committee has been quite active already, passing several bills out during two meetings this week. One of those bills was HSB 30 (now HF 165) which would require students to pass the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Naturalization Civics test as a condition of high school graduation and high school equivalency diplomas. As a long-time school board member, I am in tune with the need for our young citizens to be aware of the importance of civic knowledge in their life. Do I want our young adults unaware of their Constitutional rights and responsibilities? NO! Do I want citizens less knowledgeable on the foundation and growth of our nation socially, economically, and politically? NO!
I believe this mandatory exam is an unfunded mandate on schools, and is a possible barrier for some students’ graduation. Most of all, it will not actually change the student politically as it only serves as an exam/hurdle to be completed.
If we want to effect change by increasing understanding about government and the role citizens have in a well-functioning society, returning to a full year of American Government and Civics instruction is a good start, so I will be co-sponsoring that bill with Representative Tom Moore, a 30+-year veteran of teaching high school American and World History. The premise of HSB 30 is laudable but the test itself, the barrier it places, and the mandate it imposes make it flawed in my opinion. While the bill passed through the Education Committee 14-8 vote, I was a NO!