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Mar 20, 2010

And Now This .... Dear Gawd!



This just in:
Only one in four Oklahoma public high school students can name the first President of the United States, according to a survey released today.

The survey was commissioned by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs in observance of Constitution Day on Thursday.

Brandon Dutcher is with the conservative think tank and said the group wanted to find out how much civic knowledge Oklahoma high school students know.

The Oklahoma City-based think tank enlisted national research firm, Strategic Vision, to access students' basic civic knowledge.

"They're questions taken from the actual exam that you have to take to become a U.S. citizen," Dutcher said.

Question% of Students
Who Answered Correctly
What is the supreme law of the land?  28
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?   26
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?   27
How many justices are there on the Supreme Court?   10
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?   14
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States?   61
What are the two major political parities in the United States?   43
We elect a U.S. senator for how many years?   11
Who was the first President of the United States?   23
Who is in charge of the executive branch?   29


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grady early - 2/27/2010

Ah, me, facts are tiresome things. I expect that 99% of U.S. students would miss the "first U.S. president" question because the question is not stated precisely enough.

There are at least three choices for the honor of being the first president of the United States: Peyton Randolph, John Hanson, or George Washington, depending on your interpretation of the question.

Peyton Randolph of Virginia was president prior to the adoption of the Articles of Confederation. Five other men were also presidents of Continental Congresses.

John Hanson of Maryland then became the seventh president, or the first if you start counting with the Articles of Confederation which established the title "President of the United States in Congress assembled". Seven men followed him.

George Washington of Virginia then became the fifteenth president, but the first under the present constitution.

'Tis a great responsibility we have to pass on to our youth all of the things that we know that aren't true.


Tom - 12/4/2009

Please see this article on this so-called Survey. Combating stupidity also means fostering a healthy skepticism about right wing pollsters.

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/11/real-oklahoma-students-ace-citizenship.html


Dave - 12/1/2009

I guess they have to think of a new State Motto...


Tinkie - 10/27/2009

I really enjoy your blog. You wrote about college underfunding, and it's effects in the US. Curiously, since the '80, literacy has been falling not only in the US, but in Europe and Israel as well. In other words, same is happening everywhere because of globalization. I live in the Middle East, Europe and N. America, speak the languages, so I noticed long ago that the education system is being destroyed.
In my opinion, it is done intentionally. Who wants a majority of people whom are capable of critical thinking? If you want to turn people into serfs, but skilled to work the machines, you have to take away their ability to read and write. Very simple and very sad.
Israel used to have an advanced education system. It's gone. Nothing is left. The Netherlands - it seemed to me the country was populated by robots. In other words, they are taught skills to handle equipment, but real learning is gone...
Stupidity has taken over everywhere.
But anyway, I really enjoy reading your blog.


Bill - 10/23/2009

New Republicans from OK!


Sean Freeder - 9/27/2009

Nate Silver over at fivethirtyeight.com just posted on this topic:

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/09/are-oklahoma-students-really-this-dumb.html

He thinks that the problem is with the polling agency, not with the kids. I'm inclined to agree with his reasoning. Oklahoma's Strategic Vision is known to be a terrible polling agency. The fact that this seemed even remotely plausible to me is terrifying though.


Grant W Jones - 9/25/2009

Song 1:
Mm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that all must lend a hand
To make this country strong again
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said we must be fair today
Equal work means equal pay
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said that we must take a stand
To make sure everyone gets a chance
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

He said red, yellow, black or white
All are equal in his sight
Mmm, mmm, mm!
Barack Hussein Obama

Yes!
Mmm, mmm, mm
Barack Hussein Obama

Song 2:
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all doth say "hooray!"

Hooray, Mr. President! You're number one!
The first black American to lead this great nation!

Hooray, Mr. President we honor your great plans
To make this country's economy number one again!

Hooray Mr. President, we're really proud of you!
And we stand for all Americans under the great Red, White, and Blue!

So continue ---- Mr. President we know you'll do the trick
So here's a hearty hip-hooray ----

With teachers such as these how can one expect any real education to take place? Apparently, these products of our education colleges have never heard of West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette.


Elizabeth Cregan - 9/19/2009

I am not sure at this point if I should fight the stupidity.. or just run away. This is just embarressing