By Dave Lucas
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-968373.mp3
Albany, NY – A new Brennan Center survey entitled "A Report Card on Civic Literacy, finds that New Yorkers are seriously lacking in their knowledge of government, politics and the U.S. Constitution. Capital District Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.
The survey finds more than eight in ten New Yorkers believe that to work properly, American democracy requires citizens to be knowledgeable about the Constitution, but fewer than two in ten rate themselves as familiar with the document.
The non-partisan Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law polled more than 1,000 New Yorkers.
Eric Lane, Professor of Law at Hofstra Law School and Senior Fellow at the Brennan Center, co-authored the study.
The report card notes that civic literacy has been declining across the nation and state education policies have increasingly focused on improving performance in math and language arts. In New York, the state Board of Regents recently decided to drop 4th and 8th grade social studies assessment tests, along with possible plans to make 11th grade social studies assessments optional.
Eric Lane says "We badly need to put civics education back at the top of the education agenda."
58 percent of the survey respondents did not correctly name either of New York's two U.S. senators, while 70 percent could identify the speaker of the House of Representatives from a list of options.
Peter Levine, Director of CIRCLE (The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning & Engagement) at Tufts University, has a more optimistic take.
The Brennan Center survey urges Gov. Andrew Cuomo to "re-commit to a full civics education curriculum" in New York's schools. It suggests a commission be created to develop strategic planning and foster innovation in civics education.
The Board of Regents did not respond to a request for comment in time for broadcast.