Interview with George Stephanopoulos

May 27, 2010

ITEM DETAILS

Type: Interview, TV appearance

Interviewer: George Stephanopoulos

Source: ABC

Physical location/Show name: Good Morning America

Date is approximate: No

View on Abcnews.go.com

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Transcript

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor sat down for an interview with "Good Morning America" anchor George Stephanopoulos on Wednesday, May 26, 2010. The following transcript of their interview has been edited for clarity.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Justice O'Connor, thank you so much for doing this.

SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR: No problem.

STEPHANOPOULOS: I was watching you out there. You are a national teacher.

O'CONNOR: Well, most mothers are, don't you think? (LAUGHTER) We have a few teachers -- little kids to teach as we go along, don't we?

STEPHANOPOULOS: And I was stunned when I first heard this. And ... I imagine you were as well. Two thirds of Americans can name a judge on "American Idol." Fewer than one in 10 can name a chief justice of the Supreme Court.

O'CONNOR: Oh, I know it. And the statistics are worse. The Annenberg Foundation takes statistics and barely one third of Americans can name the three branches of government, much less say what they do. How do you like that?

STEPHANOPOULOS: It's unbelievable. But --

O'CONNOR: It's scary.

STEPHANOPOULOS: You're doing something about that now.

O'CONNOR: I am trying as hard as I can to do something about that. Half the states have stopped making civics and government a requirement for high school. Half.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Why is that?

O'CONNOR: Well, it's partly the unintended consequence of No Child Left Behind.

STEPHANOPOULOS: 'Cause they put so much emphasis on math and science?

O'CONNOR: Now, let's go

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