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        There was much lamenting over low election turnouts.  Even in presidential races fewer than 50% now bother.  In non-presidential year primaries, such as are upcoming, voter turnout may be in single digits in many places.
 
         One assumption seems to be that  if more people voted the results would be better, or at least different.
 
         There is some evidence a higher turnout would produce worse results.  Surveys show that general knowledge of history, government and geography is abysmal.  For this the public schools are 90% responsible since they educate 90% of the students.
 
         In his book, Kids Who Kill, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee noted that 32% of high school seniors cannot name even three past presidents and 42% cannot identify their home state on an outline map. Another study found 61 million Americans cannot come within 500 miles of locating the nation's capitol and 44 million cannot even find the Pacific Ocean.
 
         One report found six of  every seven 8th graders lack an understanding of American history, with 57% rated as "below basic." A National Assessment of Educational Progress report found just 1-2% of 4th, 8th and 12th graders had "advanced" knowledge of history.
 
         For those who fondly recall the "good old days" of schooling, there is also bad news.
 
         In 1970, the Associated Press reporter interviewed people on the streets of Miami. Only one would sign a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Others dismissed it as "Commie junk," or "antigovernment." When 300 young adults at a Youth for Christ gathering were asked the same thing, 28% thought the Declaration was written by Lenin, by a red-neck revolutionist, whatever that is, or by a hippie.
 
         So let's go back to 1942.  The New York Times reported on the knowledge of college freshmen. Only 6% could name the 13 colonies. The report didn't say how many could name 12, or seven.
 
         Fewer than half could identify two powers the Constitution grants Congress or four freedoms in the Bill of Rights. One-fourth didn't know who was president during the Civil War.   Remember, these are college students.  In 1942.
 
         Surveys consistently show average Americans not only cannot name their U.S. Senators, they don't know how many Senators their state has. Typically, four percent or so cannot name the President of the United States.
 
         Pre-election surveys find large numbers cannot identify the candidates. Even presidential races find many who don't know who the candidates are.  Few can tell you what their positions are on the issues.
 
         Should such ignorance be dragged to the polls? (Ignorance is a lack of knowledge; not necessarily stupidity, a lack of intelligence.) Yet public school supporters repeatedly brag about how the schools have made us a democracy, developed good citizens, etc. Where's the proof?
 
         Remember February 1990? Then-President George H.W. Bush and state governors, including then Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, held an education summit and set six goals to be achieved by 2000. None were realized. Those who set them have moved on and the goals have not only been forgotten, they've been repealed.
 
         Goal three stated dogmatically that "American students will leave grades four, eight and twelve having demonstrated competency in...history and geography; and every school in America will ensure that all students will...be prepared for responsible citizenship." It hasn't happened.
 
         None of this is to deny any citizen's right to vote but democracy is not based on 100% participation, or any percentage. Its basic requirement is that those who want to exercise their voting rights may do so and those who do not accept the results. Thomas Jefferson once suggested that the right to vote should depend on the demonstration of an adequate level of literacy.
 
         While that has merit, it won't happen. Still, it would be nice if the schools could produce better citizens. Unfortunately giving achievement tests to teachers has not always produced stellar results. Some object that knowing a subject doesn't mean you can teach it. True.  But it's also true that you can't teach what you don't know. Even worse is when you teach what you know, and you're wrong.
 
         It's been said that, in a democracy, citizens get the kind of government they deserve. Fortunately,  sometimes it's better.
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         "He who has been a serf until the day before he is 21 years of age cannot be an independent citizen the day after."  Horace Mann, Ninth Annual Report, 1845.  P. 296, Phi Delta Kappan, Dec. 1974

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Copyright 2006 David W. Kirkpatrick
108 Highland Court,
Douglassville, Pennsylvania 19518-9240
Phone: (610) 689-0633