Study finds U.S. college students are failing in 'civil literacy'

Do you know the significance of the Battle of Yorktown or what federalism is? If you're a college student, chances are you don't, according to a recent study by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. The report claims that American college students are coming up short in what the study calls "civil literacy," according to an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education.\nThe survey asked college students to identify or explain lesser-known American historical facts. The study showed a high percent of students struggled to identify the Battle of Yorktown as the last battle of the American Revolution and could not adequately explain the purpose of the Monroe Doctrine. \nThe article went on to say scores were only 1.5 percent higher for college seniors than for freshman. Seniors scored an average of 53.2 percent, which amounts to failing the "test."\nThere were instances, including some at Ivy League universities, where freshmen outscored seniors. \nIU political science professor Eileen Braman said she wasn't surprised that seniors did not do exceptionally better than freshmen because the younger students have that information fresh out of high school. She said she often takes class time to talk about history, at least in the context of the class. "I don't really do it because I'm frustrated with what students come knowing and what they don't know," Braman said. "I do it because, you know, I think it's important, even if you know it, to kind of think about it in this new context."\nPolitical science professor Christine Barbour said she believed the problem with civic education is not founded in curriculum gaps in college but in high school. She said many students in her classes had been taught only a brief course on civics.\n"You know, I see students who are taking American government in college who haven't had (well-taught civics)," Barbour said. "I think that it's really smart to require it. I think it's an important and essential part of being an effective citizen."\nSophomore political science major Lindi Shane said civics was a required course at her high school. She believed colleges shouldn't have to educate students on civics because such learning should take place in high school.\n"College could do more but shouldn't have to," Shane said. "Basic civics should be learned in high school because it is information that every American should know and understand."\nBarbour said she thought this seeming lack of political and civic awareness stems from a disinterest in government among youth today. She said she believed a combination of media coverage and the fact that government doesn't seem to affect students' lives were possible causes.\n"I think there's a lot of cynicism about it ... You have to perceive that you have a stake in what happens," Barbour said. "Unfortunately, the kinds of things that changed (awareness) for my generation were the draft and Vietnam." \nShane said she was astounded at some of the people she saw who didn't know what she thought were basic concepts. She took one class where the teacher had to explain basic information about Congress.\n"I was just floored that people wouldn't know how Congress was elected and split up," Shane said.\nBraman said she believed the lack of civic knowledge could be because students know best what they need to know to function day to day.\n"In reality, people have other things that they do, other things that they're concerned with," Braman said.\nHowever, Braman said she believed it is especially important for students to be involved. She said organizations exist to encourage students to be more concerned about politics, but it is ultimately the students' responsibility. \n"There are really good campus efforts to try to get students involved and motivated," Braman said. "But we could certainly do more. It would be nice to see students feel more a part of the political system and act more a part of the political system"