There's an article in the NY Times about how, well, dumb American high school students are. Such as: "Fewer than half of American teenagers who were asked basic history and literature questions in a phone survey knew when the Civil War was fought, and one in four said Columbus sailed to the New World some time after 1750, not in 1492."

You can read the full article here: Survey Finds Teenagers Ignorant on Basic History and Literature Questions .

It does scare me a bit that these teenagers are going to be voting in the election coming up later this year.

HOWEVER, I don't like this survey. First, only 1,200 17 year-old students were surveyed. Only 1,200 out of ... well I don't know off hand the amount of high school seniors there are in the United States but I know there's A LOT more than that. This isn't exactly what I would refer to as a random sampling, especially since the article doesn't go into specifics about where the students go to school. Is this a survey at one individual school, or school district? How was this survey passed out? Until I know more about that, I question whether this is "American education" at fault or simply one or two school boards.

Also, some of the questions bother me. I can admit that I wouldn't know the plot of "The Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison because I never had to read it. Sometimes the required reading differs between schools, or states. Also, I had no idea that "that in the Bible Job is known for his patience in suffering. About as many said he was known for his skill as a builder, his prowess in battle or his prophetic abilities." Why is this in the survey? I wasn't aware that Bible stories were supposed to be taught in high schools. Yes, I understand that as a book it's pretty much the most influential book in the world. But that's why there are synagogues and churches, and "Sunday schools." Because it is still inherently a RELIGIOUS book, and not necessarily one that should be required reading for a public school.

I realize that yes, perhaps America's education is in dire straights. This article may be reflecting a trend that is throughout the country. However, I still don't approve of the survey. It seems to be biased, and it hardly has enough numbers to speak for the entire American education system.

I worry for these students, though. Especially since "a third do not know that the Bill of Rights guarantees the freedom of speech and religion." I don't know whether they simply didn't pay attention in school, or if this was never taught to them. Which one is worse, well, I'm not sure. I don't think my teachers paid as much attention to the Constitution or Bill of Rights as they should have, though. I learned more about them in September while setting up a bulletin board in the library for Constitution Week. Perhaps I simply care more about the documents that give me my rights as I get older and can now exercise my right to vote, but I seriously don't think my high school American History teacher spent more than a day on them. Which begs the question: is it the student, or the teacher?

It's 2:20 in the morning, and these are the things I think of while waiting for the primary results to get in (what, wait for morning? Are you nuts?!). Huckabee just conceded the GOP nomination to McCain (as if there was any doubt that McCain would beat Huckabee for it, though I have to give the man his dues for sticking it out as long as he has), and the Rhode Island results are just coming in. I love democracy.

In other, less thought-provoking, news: I went out and played laser tag tonight. It was me and three British against a Frenchman, a Spaniard, and three Germans (I think?). Of course, my team won both games...even with my bad aim.