When I went to high school one semester of Civics was required to graduate

[captain queeg]

A lot of students complained about even that minimal amount. I’m sure there was some sort of history requirement too. I personally always liked history and have read a lot on my own but seems like most kids don’t like it. Anyway, I don’t know what’s required nowadays or how it’s taught but I think kids come out ill prepared to be citizens these days. I know I could throw Geography in there too. It’s not just embarrassing, it’s dangerous for society.

[murielm99]

1. We couldn't graduate without

American history and civics. We had to pass a test on the state and federal constitution in order to graduate. They made the tests easy enough for average kids, but they still covered the basics.

[YOHABLO]

2. Make Presidential Candidates pass a civics test and /or a U.S.Constitution test.

Trump would never have passed it. Just think, no Trump.

[Clash City Rocker]

3. Same here, except Civics was called Social Studies

It’s funny, I hated History class in high school, but now I read books about US history for fun.

[hlthe2b]

4. Many pre-med, pre-vet med, pre-dental & other professional curricula in college required it as wel

I had a decent public school education that was truly reinforced in college. I am incredulous that so many know so little about our government, can't write or spell, know absolutely nothing about world geography or even that of our own country and don't get me started on history. Then we move into science--omg. No wonder the RW is able to bamboozle so readily. We were/are ripe for the worst consequences.

[exboyfil]

5. You know those Bible literacy courses

The legislation in some states allow students to substitute them for Civics or Economics. Think about that for a minute.

[mwooldri]

6. English school "graduation" requirements...

English schools don't "graduate" as such, but everyone sits a big test at the end (though some courses do coursework through the 2 years before sitting GCSEs).

At my school, everyone did English, Maths and Science. Social Studies, Religious Education and Physical Education were mandatory but unless you picked RE or PE as your elective these classes didn't count towards your GCSE results (in my year no-one chose Religious Education for their GCSE elective, even though the course was multi faith). Then there were four electives. One had to be a language (French, German, Latin). One had to be a humanity (History, Geography). One had to be vocational (craft design technology, home economics, etc) and the fourth was free choice (art, PE, RE, another language, humanity, vocation).

My sons are of course going through the US education system (in North Carolina specifically). My eldest has chosen world history because history does fascinate him. It counts towards the social studies requirement. Though I do need to figure out what he needs to graduate (sans English, maths and science).

[demigoddess]

7. I had two years of government classes when I went and

one year of World History. Unfortunately, my second year of government was in Mississippi. One day in government class the teacher said out of the blue, "you know, having you girls in class is almost as bad as negroes, but you smell better." I could not believe my ears. This was the 60s but it seems things haven't changed that much have they???

[Turin_C3PO]

8. I don't know that they're coming out worse.

I’m proud of this younger generation because every study shows they hold more liberal views and vote overwhelmingly for Democrats. True, they don’t vote in large numbers (neither did previous generations when they were young) but they did come out to vote in 2018.

[csziggy]

9. I think we had six weeks of "Americanism vs. Communism" as part of 9th grade History

It was required back then and everybody was just used to it.

As opposed to American History which in my high school was one section on discovery and settlement of North America, two sections on the American Revolution, and three sections on the War of Northern - Aggression including six weeks solely on the propaganda in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." Yeah my American History teacher had issues, being a member of the DAR and the Daughters of the Confederacy.