OUR DUMB KIDS DON’T KNOW CIVICS

The American Council of Trustees and Alumni gave a 35-question survey to 3,000 American college students and found – no surprise here – that very few have a basic knowledge of history, lawmaking and US governance. Some of the results:
– Only 27% knew that Vice President Kamala Harris also sits as the Senate’s president — a key role in tiebreaking deadlocked votes.
– Only 28% of college kids were aware that the 13th Amendment was what ended slavery.
– Only 35% knew Louisiana congressman Mike Johnson was the speaker of the House of Representatives.
– 60% did not know the term limits of Representatives is two years.
– Only 32% knew that the legislative branch had the power to declare war. Nearly half of college students thought that was the President’s executive authority.
– 51% thought the Constitution was drafted in 1776.
– 44% thought Thomas Jefferson was the “father of the Constitution,” rather than President James Madison.
– Only 23% knew the phrase “Government of the people, by the people, for the people,” is from President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
* Look, we are not sending our kids to college to play Jeopardy. Give ’em a break.
* The American Council of Trustees and Alumni just does this so they can sit around afterwards feeling superior.
* Less than 20% know of the famous rap battle between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr.
* I’ve got bad news for you: many of our POLITICIANS don’t know civics.