Is a lack of civics education putting democracy at risk?« Thread Started on Jul 5, 2007, 4:40am » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Is a lack of civics education putting democracy at risk?Published 07/03/2007 By Kevin Castleread at source> http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9001911On this day, Americans pause to remember the actions - on the battlefield and in the Continental Congress - that shaped the nation.Unfortunately, a study of college freshmen and seniors reveals many of them have little understanding of what July Fourth is about, not to mention other basics of U.S. history and government.The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) based in Wilmington, Del., released a study titled "The Coming Crisis in Citizenship" in late 2006. Mike Deshaires, ISI director of communications, said the 60-question multiple choice exam given in 2005 to 14,500 freshmen and seniors at 50 colleges and universities covered four core areas: U.S. history, U.S. government, free market economics, and the United States and its relationship with other countries.The average grade for the students wasn't even near passing, with the cumulative score only 53.2 percent, and with incoming freshmen scoring 51.7 percent after tests were graded.