My 2 Cents: Civics Education Initiative

There is a movement gathering steam, including here in Oklahoma, that would add one more test to the requirements students have to meet to get a high school diploma ... and I'm for it.

It's the called the Civics Education Initiative, and it's a national push to get state legislatures to require that high school graduates must pass the same exam that people applying for citizenship in this country have to pass.

They would have to pass the exam some time during their high school career.

It's vital knowledge and understanding for the next generation to have to keep this country going.

Five years ago, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs did an unscientific survey of Oklahoma high school students and found only 3 percent would have passed the citizenship test that 92 percent of immigrants pass on the first try.

That's disturbing.

Out of a list of 100 possible questions, they'll typically get 10 and have to answer at least six right.

Now, I'm no rocket scientist, as many of you like to point out, but I took the practice quizzes tonight online, I got 98 out of 100 questions right.

It's a very basic knowledge about our country.

• What ocean is off the West Coast?
• Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
• Who's your Congressmember?

It's stuff all of our kids need to know ... grownups too!

I'm Kelly Ogle and that's My 2 Cents.