A bill that would require students to pass the United States citizenship civics test to graduate from high school failed to clear the Arkansas House Committee on Education on Thursday.
Senate Bill 878, sponsored by Sen. Jason Rapert, R-Bigelow, would allow students to take a test identical to the civics portion of the naturalization test as many times as needed to meet the graduation requirement.
Several teachers spoke against the bill, expressing concern that students wouldn't be able to gain and retain the knowledge needed to pass the test from taking one civics class in ninth grade.
"Testing [high school students] based on something that they learned in ninth grade may not be fair to the kids," Little Rock School District teacher Candrice Jones said.
Another teacher suggested making social studies a bigger focus in curriculum throughout a child's education, rather than putting the testing requirement in place.
"Social studies has been drummed out of curriculum because we're worried about math," Little Rock School District teacher Barbara Hall said. "I think this is an issue that needs to be discussed. We need to look at curriculum across education."
Rep. John Walker, D-Little Rock, questioned the need for the test since citizens aren't required to take the citizenship test.
"Why is it that we are creating a test that applies to immigrants and does not apply to everybody?" Walker asked. "This is meant to apply to persons of Hispanic origin who are here in the eye of some illegally. Why do we have this test, what is its purpose other than to offend a race of people?"
Rep. Bruce Cozart, R-Hot Springs, who presented the bill for Rapert, said the test would apply to all students.
"This isn't to offend anyone, this is for any student," Cozart said. "I'm embarrassed at what some kids know and what some of us [legislators] know about our country. This is another step in the direction to getting them to know more about our country."
Other representatives voiced concerns about how students with special education needs would be able to take and pass the test, as well as students who have immigrated here and don't understand the English language.
Former state Rep. Ann Clemmer spoke in favor of the bill as a member of the Arkansas Political Science Association, and said that the group has advocated for adding an additional American government class in high schools to better prepare students for college government classes.
The bill passed originally on a voice vote, but Walker called for a roll call vote after the bill passed but before the committee moved on to consider other bills.
Democratic Reps. Reginald Murdock, James Raliff, Mark McElroy and Walker voted against the bill.
Rapert said after the meeting he plans to bring the bill back unamended before the committee when it reconvenes Thursday afternoon.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
