Do you find it Disgusting that College Educators only scored 55% on a Civics Exam?

by Kaimeso Posted 2011/08/26 18:26:27

Related Topics: School, quiz, College, Civic, Disgusting, Missing, Educational, 93

37 votes
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		Yes, horrible
		No, about what I thought
		Sorry, don't really care
		Other
		I tried the exam and scored
		Undecided (Please leave a comment)

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Yes, horrible	22 votes	59%
	No, about what I thought	6 votes	16%
	Sorry, don't really care	1 vote	3%
	Other	1 vote	3%
	I tried the exam and scored	7 votes	19%
	Undecided	0 votes	0%

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute reported the average citizen only scored 49% on their 33 question Civics exam. What is more disgusting is public officials averaged 44% while our college educators topped with 55%. To me, they all failed.

My neighbor showed me the articles and admitted he felt pretty bad for only scoring a 74. something. So I was pushed into taking the quiz. I didn't really feel to good with missing two questions, but when it showed a final score of 93.9 it seems I must have learned more in school than I thought,...

Sorry, didn't check out the complete exam on the original link, but I eventually found the one I did earlier in the week.

Take the exam here, it is an educational experience,...
http://www.isi.org/quiz.aspx?q=FE5C3B47-9675-41E0-9CF3-072BB3...

Add a comment above

nonnonsenseguy 2011/08/27 05:55:55

Yes, horrible

+4
Those who can't do teach...so says a liberal friend of mine who has a masters in spanish and english education.
>> See Replies

More polls by Kaimeso

Bevos 2011/08/29 15:08:03

Yes, horrible

+1
I did pretty well in Civics in school but that was 50+ yrs ago. But I'll bet I could do better than 55% now.

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Murph 2011/08/27 18:45:13 (edited)

I tried the exam and scored

+1
29 out of 33.

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Ramon 2011/08/27 07:24:57

Yes, horrible

+2
You answered 28 out of 33 correctly — 84.85 %

Not too bad I guess.

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AL 2011/08/27 06:56:20 (edited)

Yes, horrible

+2
And these far left dummies are teaching our youth? LMAO!

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nonnonsenseguy 2011/08/27 05:55:55

Yes, horrible

+4
Those who can't do teach...so says a liberal friend of mine who has a masters in spanish and english education.

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Pele Emerging 2011/08/27 03:24:52 (edited)

Sorry, don't really care

+2
If general citizens average 49%, why is it worse if college professors get 55%? They don't all teach history or civics. Sometimes, it might also reflect on the quality of the test or the way the questions were asked, rather than real knowledge of those taking the test.

I find it worse that public officials did worse than the general public than the college educators did better. Before you say they all failed, take the test yourself and see how you do.

I'm editing this to note that I found the link at the end of the article (sorry, I'm tired). Here's my score: You answered 29 out of 33 correctly — 87.88 %

I still think some of the questions were very, very obscure.

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Kaimeso to Pele Em... 2011/08/27 16:47:22

Thanks for the thoughtful response,..

"why is it worse if college professors get 55%?" The point being we can't really blame the general citizens for not knowing the information if the educators (those teaching) don't know it either. Have to remember testing is not really to see how much a student has learned, but rather to evaluate the teachers so they can focus on the areas that were not understood. Of course if the teachers don't know something, that makes it pretty hard for the students to learn from them.

"take the test yourself and see how you do." I did, it was covered in the question.

'I still think some of the questions were very, very obscure." That is something I looked for when taking the quiz and only noticed two that might have been considered more as trivia than important information.

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Pele Em... to Kaimeso 2011/08/27 18:12:50

+1
You have to remember that college educators specialize and do not teach multiple things unrelated to their specialty. If you're an English Lit professor, you may also teach English composition, but you're not going to teach history or civics. I can tell you that even with a master's degree, they asked questions on the test that I'd never studied, even in high school or college. My college history classes were pretty specific (Pacific Northwest History), as history was not my area of focus.

What I find more significant is that many natural born US citizens cannot pass the citizenship test we expect those who want to become citizens to pass. Still, I know the information all the test is presented to school children multiple times, but you cannot MAKE someone learn and remember who does not choose to do it.
Here are some links to sample citizenship tests. I wonder how many of us can pass it?
http://www.factmonster.com/qu...
http://www.800citizen.org/us_...
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/s...
http://www.blogthings.com/cou...
(got 10 out of 10, but the real test is much harder)
http://www.history.com/intera...

You have to remember that college educators specialize and do not teach multiple things unrelated to their specialty. If you're an English Lit professor, you may also teach English composition, but you're not going to teach history or civics. I can tell you that even with a master's degree, they asked questions on the test that I'd never studied, even in high school or college. My college history classes were pretty specific (Pacific Northwest History), as history was not my area of focus.

What I find more significant is that many natural born US citizens cannot pass the citizenship test we expect those who want to become citizens to pass. Still, I know the information all the test is presented to school children multiple times, but you cannot MAKE someone learn and remember who does not choose to do it.
Here are some links to sample citizenship tests. I wonder how many of us can pass it?
http://www.factmonster.com/qu...
http://www.800citizen.org/us_...
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/s...
http://www.blogthings.com/cou...
(got 10 out of 10, but the real test is much harder)
http://www.history.com/intera...
(more)

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Kaimeso to Pele Em... 2011/08/27 18:43:28

No matter what position and educator holds they should still have a basic education (actually more). Everyones education should include something as basic as what was covered on this quiz, so again, an educator can't teach something they don't even know themselves.

Also how about creating another question on citizenship exams? Sounds like it might generate some interesting discussion and be educational too.

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Pele Em... to Kaimeso 2011/08/27 19:10:02

+1
Like I said, I found some of the questions pretty darned obscure, like having to know a Supreme Court decision, and one that quite frankly, I'd never heard of at all. I intend to do the citizenship poll later today, but I want to take all of the quizzes before I do and don't have time.

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M A 2011/08/27 02:50:09

I tried the exam and scored

+2
30 years since ive been in a history class and i score 79%

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Kaimeso to M A 2011/08/27 02:56:11

+1
It was a bit longer for me so I didn't have much self confidence when I started, but damned,.. I'm thinking most people who completed high-school should pass,.

Anyway, thumbs up for trying and beating the average educator,..

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TheTailor 2011/08/27 02:50:05

I tried the exam and scored

+1
74! Heh, I suck but I did about 40% better than TEACHERS?? wtf...

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Kaimeso to TheTailor 2011/08/27 02:58:04

+1
Yes, kind of answers why a lot of kids are being home schooled,...

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The River Rat 2011/08/27 02:47:08

I tried the exam and scored

+3
You answered 28 out of 33 correctly — 84.85 %

I am very disappointed with my score. I thought I would score higher.

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Kaimeso to The Riv... 2011/08/27 02:51:50

+1
Still better than the average educator or public servant,... and don't forget the learning experience so for that,..

And see who else you can teach,..

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JohnFitzgeral12 2011/08/27 01:35:25 (edited)

Yes, horrible

+3
I got a 75.76%; 25 out of 33. I'm disappointed. But hey, on the bright side, I'd make a great college professor!

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Kaimeso to JohnFit... 2011/08/27 02:28:58

+1

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templer003 2011/08/27 00:38:18

I tried the exam and scored

+2
You answered 24 out of 33 correctly — 72.73 %

If you have any comments or questions about the quiz, please email americancivicliteracy@isi.org.

You can consult the following table to see how citizens and elected officials scored on each question.

Incorrect Answers

Question: What was the main issue in the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858?
Your Answer: Do Southern states have the constitutional right to leave the union?
Correct Answer: Would slavery be allowed to expand to new territories?

Question: Free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government’s centralized planning because:
Your Answer: more tax revenue can be generated from free enterprise
Correct Answer: the price system utilizes more local knowledge of means and ends

Question: In 1935 and 1936 the Supreme Court declared that important parts of the New Deal were unconstitutional. President Roosevelt responded by threatening to:
Your Answer: override the Supreme Court’s decisions by gaining three-quarter majorities in both houses of Congress
Correct Answer: appoint additional Supreme Court justices who shared his views

Question: The Puritans:
Your Answer: believed in complete religious ...

You answered 24 out of 33 correctly — 72.73 %

If you have any comments or questions about the quiz, please email americancivicliteracy@isi.org.

You can consult the following table to see how citizens and elected officials scored on each question.

Incorrect Answers

Question: What was the main issue in the debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in 1858?
Your Answer: Do Southern states have the constitutional right to leave the union?
Correct Answer: Would slavery be allowed to expand to new territories?

Question: Free markets typically secure more economic prosperity than government’s centralized planning because:
Your Answer: more tax revenue can be generated from free enterprise
Correct Answer: the price system utilizes more local knowledge of means and ends

Question: In 1935 and 1936 the Supreme Court declared that important parts of the New Deal were unconstitutional. President Roosevelt responded by threatening to:
Your Answer: override the Supreme Court’s decisions by gaining three-quarter majorities in both houses of Congress
Correct Answer: appoint additional Supreme Court justices who shared his views

Question: The Puritans:
Your Answer: believed in complete religious freedom
Correct Answer: stressed the sinfulness of all humanity

Question: Sputnik was the name given to the first:
Your Answer: telecommunications system
Correct Answer: manmade satellite

Question: The Bill of Rights explicitly prohibits:
Your Answer: discrimination based on race, sex, or religion
Correct Answer: establishing an official religion for the United States

Question: Which of the following fiscal policy combinations has the federal government most often followed to stimulate economic activity when the economy is in a severe recession?
Your Answer: increasing taxes and decreasing spending
Correct Answer: decreasing taxes and increasing spending

Question: What was the source of the following phrase: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people”?
Your Answer: Declaration of Independence
Correct Answer: Gettysburg Address

Question: Which of the following statements is true about abortion?
Your Answer: the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that underage women must notify their parents of an impending abortion
Correct Answer: the Supreme Court struck down most legal restrictions on it in Roe v. Wade

LMAO..I missed some that should have been no brainer's but got other correct...oh well I still did BETTER than the eggheads...woot woot...
(more)

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Kaimeso to templer003 2011/08/27 16:50:28

+1
There were some tough ones, but this was a way of refreshing my memory too. Thanks for responding,..

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templer003 to Kaimeso 2011/08/27 18:15:34

+1
Lol what really got me was the ones I was sure of that I got wrong...lol nice bit of education like you said am glad I saw it and responded...Cheers..

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Cold Warrior 2011/08/27 00:05:44

Yes, horrible

+3
Most aren't educators, just liberal indoctrinators.

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merlinskiss 2011/08/26 23:35:24

Yes, horrible

+4
But then, they all aspire to be PHD"s (pilled hip deeps"!

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Kaimeso to merlins... 2011/08/26 23:46:13

+2
Yes, look at my answer to Rore73 below,.. They turn courses into a race for their PHD,

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merlins... to Kaimeso 2011/08/27 18:36:48

+1
;-)

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Rore73 2011/08/26 23:33:22 (edited)

Yes, horrible

+2
Probably because they couldn't care less about the US Constitution and our system of government, yet they are highly opinionated about it being all wrong and the need to change it.

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Kaimeso to Rore73 2011/08/26 23:44:54

+2
Yes, I agree. I read an article the other day about how many of the university liberal arts programs have become completely useless because they have been hi-jacked by academics using them for their pet projects. In my oh so humble opinion an educator that couldn't get at least a 90 on that exam should be put on probabation or fired.

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perks-a real PATRIOT 2011/08/26 23:18:16

No, about what I thought

+1
Doesn't surprise me at all, but I would be surprised if they couldn't ace an exam on saul alinsky!!

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Timmy 2011/08/26 22:37:53 (edited)

Yes, horrible

+1
Most are liberal or progressive, plus they live in their own little world and avoid reality.

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GINGERBREAD 2011/08/26 22:28:36

Other

+2
Why be surprised. I swear, every time I hear this , I just laugh out loud. It's our fault. Has everybody forgotten that it's our money that is doing all of this to us? What does that mean? It means we've been asleep at the switch. We've allowed all of this to go on right under our noses and we did nothing about it. Why. I don't know. Maybe they are right, we are stupid.

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ray 2011/08/26 22:26:09

Yes, horrible

+2
Serious disappointment not to get 100% , at 80% could I still teach at a college?

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Kaimeso to ray 2011/08/26 23:25:44

+1
I guess that at 80% you would be a STAR in college,..

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jackolantyrn356 2011/08/26 22:21:55

Yes, horrible

+1
The trick is they are mostly Demo-Marxists Or pure Commi=unists.
They can't figure out Laws so they make up their own controling l;aws. they can skip

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Kaimeso to jackola... 2011/08/26 23:26:27

+1
I don't doubt that, but damned you would they would at least know what they are trying to destroy,.

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ZippyTheWonderMonkey 2011/08/26 21:53:02

I tried the exam and scored

+3
80% not bad for what Obama and his academia friends would call one of the "under-educated rural people who cling to their guns and their religion"

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John 2011/08/26 21:44:17

Yes, horrible

+1
Horrible, but no surprise. (I liken our educators, politicians and the general public to an extended verion of Jay Leno's "Jay-Walking.")

I missed one:

=============================...
Incorrect Answers
Question: The power of judicial review was established in: * (42% correct)
Your Answer: the Constitution.
Correct Answer: Marbury v. Madison..
=============================...

I almost said Marbury, but changed my mind thinking it was probably in the Constitution, but was actually just affirmed by Marbury.

Anyway, very sad. And I can only imagine our generations coming up now will only do worse as the dumbing-down of America proceeds along its predetermined path.

(Just out of curiosity, the quiz I just took had only ten questions. How could one score a 93.9% ?)

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Kaimeso to John 2011/08/26 23:34:43 (edited)

+1
I took the 33 question quiz on Tuesday at a friends, then looked up the link today and must have gotten the wrong link with only the first 10 questions. I searched again so try this one,

http://www.isi.org/quiz.aspx?...

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John to Kaimeso 2011/08/27 11:36:24

Thanks. I re-took it. I got...

==============
ResultsYou answered 32 out of 33 correctly — 96.97 %

If you have any comments or questions about the quiz, please email americancivicliteracy@isi.org.

You can consult the following table to see how citizens and elected officials scored on each question.

.Incorrect Answers
Question: If taxes equal government spending, then:
Your Answer: government debt is zero
Correct Answer: tax per person equals government spending per person on average.
========================

I missed one. However I maintain my "incorrect answer" is as correct and valid as the answer they use if not moreso. Simple math... X1 = X2, therefore X1 - X2 = 0

Anyway, good quiz.

Thanks.

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Kaimeso to John 2011/08/27 16:52:40

+1
Woohoo,... damned good score,
Thanks for responding,

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turnright 2011/08/26 21:38:12 (edited)

Yes, horrible

Not surprising.

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