Bacon's Rebellion

Radical Idea: Virginia H.S. Grads Should Know More About Their Country Than Foreigners Do

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by

James A. Bacon
in

by Kerry Dougherty

What do you say we start this morning with a little quiz? Pour yourself a cup of coffee and get out your number 2s!

What is the name of the national anthem:

  1. The Star Spangled Banner
  2. The Pledge of Allegiance
  3. God Bless America
  4. America the Beautiful

“1” you say? Well done!

How many U.S Senators are there?

  1. 435
  2. 50
  3. 27
  4. 100      If you guessed “4” you are really smart! (No you’re not, but you may be smarter than a high school kid, so there’s that.)

Let’s try one more: In what month do we vote for president?

  1. May
  2. April
  3. November
  4. December

Yep, “3” it is! Looks like someone was paying attention last month!

These incredibly easy questions are actual samples of those provided to non-citizens preparing to take the naturalization test. One delegate in the General Assembly – Republican Del. Lee Ware of Powhatan – is once again introducing a bill that would require all high school seniors to score at lest a 70 on the naturalization test in order to graduate.

That bill did not pass in the last session. Continue reading.

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6 responses to “Radical Idea: Virginia H.S. Grads Should Know More About Their Country Than Foreigners Do”

  1. Nancy Naive Avatar
    Nancy Naive

    Hopefully all the answers are the same in 2028 and question 3 doesn’t become a “trick question”.

  2. LarrytheG Avatar
    LarrytheG

    What's always interesting to me is what some folks think public education should or should not teach, regardless of what non-public schools teach.

    So, for instance on this, there apparently is no real effort for the state to dictate what all kids should be taught – only the ones in public schools even though they all go out into society after graduation.

    I can see some interesting stuff if we ever join other states in using tax dollars for schools that don't have the same rules as public schools, especially religious and similar.

  3. WayneS Avatar
    WayneS

    High school seniors in this country should be able to score 90% or higher on the citizenship test.

  4. James Wyatt Whitehead Avatar
    James Wyatt Whitehead

    Lee Ware. Good guy. Former school teacher. Great bill. How has this not passed?

  5. James McCarthy Avatar
    James McCarthy

    Hmmnn!! Such citizenship exam ought to be required of all legislators and state officials. The passing criterion should be greater than 70.

  6. James McCarthy Avatar
    James McCarthy

    Dear Kerry, when are foreigners who pass the test and take the oath of citizenship no longer foreigners?

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