Isn't this sad?

[Zap Rowsdower]

Today in History class, all the eighth graders took an INS test(Citizenship test). Out of 120 or so kids, only two passed. Me and my friend Peter were the only two to pass, and Peter was born in Thailand! It's an 80% to pass, and Peter got an 81%, while I got 85%. Isn't it sad that 0.05% of all of us could actually be citizens had we been born outside of the country? Also, have you ever had to take an INS test? In school, or did you want to be a citizen?

 

[TheSteeleStrap]

That's more than sad...

 

[Flac00]

I've taken something like that test before. I gotta agree with you, it is pretty bad if people in our own country know less about it then those outside of it. Ps: i did pass

 

[Withall]

Native Swede. Never had to worry about anything like that. I suspect that you are American? Nevertheless, if I were to have my citizenship based on what I know of Swedish history, I'd be thrown out pretty freaking fast- though, I think it might be a good idea these days- to limit immigration.

 

[Disaster Button]

I've never had to take one, was this test a fake one just to see how you'd all do? But yes, that is a little sad, but expected if they were all born in their own country. Many people don't know that much about the country they live in, I hypothesise wildly.

 

[BiggityB05]

Depends on the questions, and I seriously doubt many took the test seriously because what do they care, they are already citizens. I mean look at any other tests where student are taught everything they need to know and still fail the test.

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

I've never had to take one, was this test a fake one just to see how you'd all do?

It was the actual test given to immigrants, but it was to see how we'd do.

Native Swede. Never had to worry about anything like that. I suspect that you are American? Nevertheless, if I were to have my citizenship based on what I know of Swedish history, I'd be thrown out pretty freaking fast- though, I think it might be a good idea these days- to limit immigration.

Yes, I am an American.

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

They should tell them they're getting deported if they don't ace it, that would make the little shits learn their history.

 

[Frequen-Z]

The citizenship test is rather illogical.

I do not understand why you need to know everything about your country to be a citizen.

Although, I suppose it works as a screening method.

Shows you actually desire to be there because it's a nice place with culture and history, rather than wanting to be there because of specific policies or the likes.

Or maybe that wasn't the intent, I dunno, it makes sense to me.

 

[2fish]

Yes it is sad, but not as sad as the fact that school texts books are so full of propaganda and 1/2 truths. I mean they teach us our country is the best in those classes for so long that they seem to forget to teach a lot of the actual history.

I only had a few teachers in High school that taught real history. Before that it was all out of what the book said, AmeriKa is awesome (can you tell I hated those books?). It is in college where I started to see real information in books, until then it was up to me to find the real truth.

Good luck in you indoctrination class....erm history class

 

[Wrds]

Can't say I ever took one of those tests, but yes it's very sad. There should be more kids like you in 8th grade.

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

I've never heard of citizenship tests before now. Sounds like something out of Starship Troopers.

I don't believe we have anything like that here. I believe you're a citizen from birth.

But yeah, that is pretty sad.

In America, you are a citizen if you are born here, but the only two ways to become one if you are an immigrant are to marry a citizen, or pass this test.

 

[joshuaayt]

Not really. I only know trace amounts of stuff about my country, and I'm not really sure why knowledge of a country is in any way linked to the right to live within it.
I mean, I don't have any idea where the hell the bricks that form my house came from, and I'm allowed to live here.

 

[Serenegoose]

I don't think it's sad. Being born in a country doesn't mean you have to be interested in its history or culture, it just means you were born there.

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

Not really. I only know trace amounts of stuff about my country, and I'm not really sure why knowledge of a country is in any way linked to the right to live within it.
I mean, I don't have any idea where the hell the bricks that form my house came from, and I'm allowed to live here.

The questions are pretty simple, though. They were about "How many states does America have?" and "Can you name the three branches of government?" Only a few questions were a little trivia-ish. (Can't believe I forgot that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner)

 

[joshuaayt]

Not really. I only know trace amounts of stuff about my country, and I'm not really sure why knowledge of a country is in any way linked to the right to live within it.
I mean, I don't have any idea where the hell the bricks that form my house came from, and I'm allowed to live here.

The questions are pretty simple, though. They were about "How many states does America have?" and "Can you name the three branches of government?" Only a few questions were a little trivia-ish. (Can't believe I forgot that Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner)

But there it is- I don't know who wrote "Advance Australia Fair", or even the lyrics for the second verse- much like most people here.
I'm not criticizing anything, of course- Cultural values are, by definition, not static, and if it is deemed important to know such things in America, well, that's fair enough.
I just find the different values fascinating.

 

[Vrach]

I don't think that's really all that surprising. It's kinda like a foreign person studying English having a better knowledge of the language than a native speaker. Sure, the native speaker has it as the first language, but the other guy actually studied the damn thing so worked harder and had more interest compared to something that was just an everyday use.

 

[Nouw]

I've never heard of citizenship tests before now. Sounds like something out of Starship Troopers.

I don't believe we have anything like that here. I believe you're a citizen from birth.

EDIT: Oh, I see, it's a voluntary thing then? I thought you had to take it.

But yeah, that is pretty sad.

Damn it ninja'd!

First thing that came to mind was "Starship Troopers" 'Course Rico was from the Philippines.

A bit more on topic though, they should have at least gotten close to passing.

I don't think it's sad. Being born in a country doesn't mean you have to be interested in its history or culture, it just means you were born there.

I wish you were next to me when all my Korean friends rage because I no nothing about my country.

 

[The87Italians]

I took one and scored an 87. 3 other kids passed, everyone else was underneath the line. There were 29 kids total in my class.

 

[Zap Rowsdower]

A bit more on topic though, they should have at least gotten close to passing.

One thing was that a lot of kids didn't finish(we were given plenty of time), so the results may be a little skewed.