Oct 3, 2018

Article #3 in a Series >>>>> The Attempt on the Part of the Minnesota Department of Education to Mask Failure with the Pretensions of the North Star Accountability System and other Public Deceptions >>>>> Examining the Claim That Students of Minnesota are Demonstrating Knowledge of Civics

In 2016, the Minnesota legislature enacted a law that requires students In Minnesota to demonstrate knowledge of civics by passing a 50-question test.  I am going to be investigating whether this test is actually being administered, in the Minneapolis Public Schools and the other locally centralized school districts of Minnesota.

When students first start attending my academic sessions in the New Salem Educational Initiative, their knowledge prior to my instruction in civics (government, politics, rights of citizenship)---  and all major academic subjects---  is abysmal.  If this test is being administered, then, it bears investigating under what conditions and why if the test is being administered student knowledge remains so spare.

So the legitimacy and reality of test administration is one matter.  Then there is the matter of the low standard set for passing, whereby answering 30 out of 50 questions correctly yields a passing score.  Look also at the rudimentary content of this test.  Even if proof can be found that the Minneapolis Public Schools and other districts are administering this test, should answering 60% of questions correctly on such a basic assessment of knowledge be sufficient to demonstrate knowledge of government, politics, and citizenship?

Consider the following questions, then ask some or all of these questions to a young person in your familial and social universe.  My assertion is that among those young people you will discover a startling lack of knowledge as to the topics covered on this test.

Perpend:


Civics Test Requirement


In 2016, the Minnesota Legislature passed a law requiring Minnesota students in public schools to pass a civics test. Passing this test is not required for graduation. The test consists of 50 out of the 100 questions in the INS Naturalization Test. The 50 questions are selected by Learning Law and Democracy Foundation in consultation with civics teachers. The selected test questions are posted on Minnesota's Legacy website. This legislation is effective for students enrolling in grade 9 in the 2017-2018 school year. Students must pass 30 of the 50 questions. How the test is given is up to local school districts and instructors. The law is effective for students enrolling in grade 9 in the 2017-2018 school year. 

MINNESOTA CIVICS TEST

The following 50 questions which serve as the Minnesota's civics test were selected from the 100 questions used for the naturalization test administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Some questions have been edited for improved understanding or to include Minnesota specific content. Suggested answers are in italics. There may be additional correct answers. (Source: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)

1. What is the supreme law of the United States?

▪ the Constitution

 

2. What does the Constitution do?

▪ sets up the government

▪ defines the government

▪ protects basic rights of Americans

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

▪ We the People

4. What is an amendment?

▪ a change (to the Constitution)

▪ an addition (to the Constitution)

5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

▪ the Bill of Rights

6. What is one right or freedom protected by the First Amendment?

▪ speech

▪ religion

▪ assembly

▪ press

▪ petition the government

7. What are two rights in the Declaration of Independence?

▪ life

▪ liberty

▪ pursuit of happiness

8. What does freedom of religion mean?

▪ You can practice any religion

▪ You can practice no religion.

9. What does the “rule of law” mean?

▪ Everyone must follow the law.

▪ Leaders must obey the law.

▪ Government must obey the law.

▪ No one is above the law.

 10. Name one branch or part of the government.

 ▪ Congress

 ▪ legislative

▪ President

▪ executive

▪ the courts

▪ judicial

11. What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?

▪ checks and balances

▪ separation of powers

12. Who is in charge of the federal executive branch?

▪ the President

13. Who makes federal laws?

▪ Congress

▪ Senate and House (of Representatives)


▪ (U.S. or national) legislature

14. What are the two bodies of the U.S. Congress?

 ▪ the Senate and House (of Representatives)

 15. How many U.S. Senators are there?


▪ one hundred (100)

16. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

▪ six (6)

17. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

▪ four hundred thirty-five (435)

18. We elect a U.S. Representative for how many years?

▪ two (2) year terms

19. Who is represented by a U.S. Senator?

▪ all people of the state

20. Why do some states have more Representatives than other states?

 ▪ (because of) the state’s population

▪ (because) they have more people

▪ (because) some states have more people

21. We elect a President for how many years?

▪ four (4) year term

▪ maximum of two four- year terms

22. In what month do we vote for President?

▪ November

23. If the President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

▪ the Vice President

24. Who is the Commander in Chief of the military?


▪ the President

 25. Who signs bills to become laws?

▪ the President

 ▪ the Governor

 26. Who vetoes bills?


▪ the President

▪ the Governor

 27. What does the President’s Cabinet do?

▪ advises the President

 28. What are two Cabinet-level positions?


▪ Secretary of Agriculture

▪ Secretary of Commerce

▪ Secretary of Defense

▪ Secretary of Education

▪ Secretary of Energy

▪ Secretary of Health and Human Services

▪ Secretary of Homeland Security

▪ Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

▪ Secretary of the Interior

▪ Secretary of Labor

▪ Secretary of State

▪ Secretary of Transportation

▪ Secretary of the Treasury

▪ Secretary of Veterans Affairs

▪ Attorney General

▪ Vice President

29. What does the judicial branch do?

▪ reviews laws

▪ explains laws

▪ resolves disputes (disagreements)

▪ decides if a law goes against the Constitution

30. What is the highest court in the United States?


▪ the Supreme Court

31. How many justices are on the United States Supreme Court?

▪ nine (9)

32. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. What is one power of the

federal government?


▪ to print money

▪ to declare war

▪ to create an army

▪ to make treaties

33. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states?

▪ provide schooling and education

▪ provide protection (police)

▪ provide safety (fire departments)

▪ give a driver’s license

▪ approve zoning and land use

34. What is the capital of your state?

▪ St. Paul, Minnesota

35. What are two major political parties in the United States?

▪ Democratic and Republican

36. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

▪ Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).

▪ You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.

▪ Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)

▪ A male citizen of any race (can vote).

37. What is one responsibility limited to United States citizens?

▪ serve on a jury

▪ vote in a federal election


38. Name one right provided for only United States citizens.

▪ vote in a federal election

▪ run for federal office

 39. What are two rights of everyone living in the United States?

▪ freedom of expression

▪ freedom of speech

▪ freedom of assembly

▪ freedom to petition the government

▪ freedom of religion

40. What is one promise made by people when they become naturalized United States citizens?

▪ give up loyalty to other countries

▪ defend the Constitution and laws of the United States

▪ obey the laws of the United States

▪ serve in the U.S. military (if needed)

▪ serve (do important work for) the nation (if needed)

▪ be loyal to the United States

41. How old do citizens have to be to vote in the election for President?

 ▪ eighteen (18) and older

 42. What are two ways that Americans can participate in their democracy?

▪ vote

▪ join a political party

▪ help with a campaign

▪ join a civic group

▪ join a community group

▪ give an elected official your opinion on an issue

▪ call Senators and Representatives

▪ publicly support or oppose an issue or policy

▪ run for office

▪ write to a newspaper

43. When must all men register for the Selective Service?

▪ at age eighteen (18)

▪ between eighteen (18) and twenty-six (26)

44. What is one reason colonists came to America?

▪ freedom

▪ political liberty

▪ religious freedom

▪ economic opportunity

▪ practice their religion

▪ escape persecution

45. Who lived in America before the Europeans arrived?

▪ American Indians

▪ Native Americans

46. What do we call people who were taken from Africa to America and sold into bondage?

▪ slaves

47. Name one problem that led to the Civil War.

▪ slavery

▪ economic reasons

▪ states’ rights

48. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

▪ fought for women’s rights

▪ fought for civil rights

 49. What movement tried to end racial discrimination?

▪ civil rights (movement)

50. Name one of the eleven federally recognized American Indian tribes, bands, or communities in the Minnesota.

▪ Red Lake Nation (Ojibwe)

▪ White Earth Nation (Ojibwe)

▪ Bois Forte Band of Chippewa (Ojibwe)

▪ Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe)

▪ Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (Ojibwe)

▪ Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (Ojibwe)

▪ Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (Ojibwe)

▪ Prairie Island Indian Community (Dakota)

▪ Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (Dakota)

▪ Upper Sioux Community (Dakota)

▪ Upper Sioux Community (Dakota)

▪ Lower Sioux Indian Community (Dakota)

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