On the Public’s Lack of Awareness

Sandra Day O'Connor
According to the Annenberg public policy institute that takes polls, barely one third of Americans can even name the three branches of government, much less say what they do. Now imagine that that's incredible to me. They don't know anything. I mean, they can mean two out of three of the Three Stooges anytime you ask. But they can't name our justice on the US Supreme Court. I mean, it's pathetic. It really is. And you don't just inherit this half of our states no longer teach civics for high school graduation, it's not a requirement, after states and more following suit. And now we have no child left behind, right? Because our students were tested along those with about 20 Western nations, who came up in at the bottom for math and science. did and what is the President will Congress do when they see a problem? You've got a federal money. They decided we need to give money to the schools to teach math, science and reading. That was the remedy. Well, okay, maybe that's a good idea. OY to happen, and it wasn't intended, was it because the schools are reimburse for teaching math, science and reading. They don't teach civics history, and music or whatever it is. And so because they don't get any money for it. So out they go. And we're in a terrible state. State today with kids growing up and not knowing even as much as it takes to become a citizen of this country about how it works. To become a citizen, you have to take a path. You have to know the three branches of government and a lot of other stuff do but you grow up and get out of high school in this country and not know one thing. And that's what's happening.