Americans fail political knowledge test

[Redheart]

This actually doesn't surprise me. And it's not just in the U.S and U.K. Virtually everywhere in the world, young people have absolutely no interest in politics anymore. They must disillusioned with the system I believe.

Nonetheless, I think parents ought to teach their kids about civic responsibility. That's how we'll avoid having the likes of Bush Jr and Obama from ever being voted into office.

 

[thegrey]

Is there such a thing as a country who's citizens know basic political knowledge? I doubt that. The education system is in question. However, I think everyone should look at the human factor. I learned about politics in school and took a lot of test to prove that I studied. I passed the test but will I hold on to that knowledge as I get older? Probably not. In life we are constantly trying to make a life and survive with bills and so forth. Does knowing the three branches of government put food on the table? Does the event that lead up to the greatness of Dr. Martin Luther King pay the bills?

The reality is, working and life kicks you in the ass and knowing these political facts take a back seat. Year after year, we are reminded that life is a struggle and who has time to remember these tid bits from political science classes?

I understand exactly what you're saying, life does indeed get in our way. I have barely retained any of the stuff I learned in High school, and not a whole lot of what I learned in college. I've been too busy, and had to set my sights on other things. Still it is vitally important that we teach our kids (and ourselves as well) about how our government, and the economy works. For me, this is as day-to-day as remembering to shower. For 40+ years, the liberal ideology has gained a strong foothold in this country! So many people now rely on the government to take care of them, and they feel entitled to get something for nothing. We have delegated the responsibility of our precious children to a school system, that has become a socialist travesty. The reason for this is that we have allowed ourselves and our kids to become ignorant.

 

[kana_marie]

Wrong. The responsibility is shared by parents and the school. The family is the basic unit of society. This wasn't said for nothing. Even if you as a parent have a lot of work to do, if there's a will to be with your children and teach them things the school can't, then you will always find a way. If you don't make an effort to be with your children, then you're neglectful. Are you that kind of parent? Why so defensive?

Wow, I'm tempted to take your comments very personally, (mainly because of the last two sentences). But when I look at this rationally, I'm positive you wouldn't try to judge me or my parenting when you don't know anything about me or my kids. But, here, I'll fill you in a little bit.

Politics have never taken a backseat for me. I pay attention to who's in office and what they are doing to screw our lives up anymore. Every single aspect of every single person living in the Us is affected by who's holding office and what they are planning to accomplish. My kids are taught the importance of politics. They are also taught chess and guitar. Well, my daughter the guitar, and my son the piano.

1st grade class taught my daughter that when it rained, that was god crying.

So, my question is what are our tax dollars buying when the money goes into the school system? They sure as hell aren't earning that money by educating our kids on anything other than how screwed up our society has become. I have seen more elementary kids gets arrested for stupid stuff over the past couple of years, then I saw in the decades before that, combined. A little girl threw a temper tantrum, another girl sprayed herself down with perfume to get the bullies to stop saying she smelled bad, a little boy kissed a little girl, another boy brought a random leaf to school... These are only a few examples of how messed up things are and what's going in in our schools.

Oh yeah, one more point.
Allowing your children to go to a school that teaches them that being a kid is a punishable offense, or that the sun orbits the earth, or that the rain is god's tears, and NOT taking issue with it is NEGLECT. I don't want my kid spending 8 hours a day somewhere as screwed up and pointless as schools are today, when they aren't going to learn anything anyway.

Being a good parent is about a lot more than keeping them up to date on current events. It's neglectful to not question where your kid goes and what else he isnt going to learn.