Comments on: Failing grades in history

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 18:59:13 +0000

75%. I knew I was better off at state school that at Harvard. Can I have Scott’s job?

By: Victor Jones

Victor Jones — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:08:34 +0000

75 thanks to my illustrious professors at Pumpkin Hollow University…

thanks for raising the readership high bar Scott, keep it high and they will come…

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:03:42 +0000

It would be directed at him, David Lee Simmons and anyone else who wonders what economics have to do with civics. The test seemed pretty fairly balanced between history, economics and government. tyhat makes ense to me becasue I don’t think you can understand any of them without understanding all of them.

The article is aimed at history and the author cites a civics test to support it. History is about a third o the story represented by the test. I think a better headline would be “Studies Indicate American Schools Suck”.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 03:37:55 +0000

I hope the comment on it being a civics test was directed at the original writer of the article. I was well able to read it was a civics test, but the entire article is aimed at the apparent woeful amount of history knowledge. The results returned didn’t appear to segment out performance on history versus economics, etc. Personally I’ve always zone out on econ. I did great on the history and didn’t have the motivation to play process of elimination on the econ questions.

It’s a slippery slope when we start suggesting that tests should decide who can and cannot vote. Jim Crow anyone?

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:07:40 +0000

87… had to guess on a few … but most were simple elimination if you don’t know the correct answer immediately

BTW, it’s a civics test, not a history test, so the economics questions are appropriate. Either someone didn’t read closely or know the difference between civics and history, but a clue is the web banner that says “for teaching Americas history and institutions”.

By: Dale

Dale — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 23:46:36 +0000

We needed a study to determine that we don’t know American history? really?

By: Thomas Wheatley

Thomas Wheatley — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:00:48 +0000

70 percent here, too. As a truly ethical journalist who prefers to act as an observer of the political milieu rather than a participant, I don’t vote at all…

*Cough*

By: Debbie

Debbie — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:48:58 +0000

70 percent – just as smart as Scott H., but not allowed to vote.

That was exhausting.

By: Andisheh Nouraee

Andisheh Nouraee — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:37:44 +0000

Anyone who doesn’t know what the Constitution says should have their Constitutional right to vote taken away!

Right on, Geoff!

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:43:58 +0000

Anyone who doesn\\\’t get an 80 or better on this shouldn\\\’t be allowed to vote.