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Editorial: How would students do?

Our editorial of Feb. 18, “How Would You Do?”, stirred the interest of correspondent Ken Larson (see letter at right) who feels the questions asked of applicants for citizenship should be directed to high school seniors as well.

He has a good point: without basic knowledge of civics, how can Americans feel secure in the operation of their government? The process of making laws, the separation of powers, the rights and protections granted in the constitution, really don’t elicit much interest unless someone is outraged about something.

But they are important all the time.

Mr. Larson would be interested to know that he is of like mind with Del. Richard P. Bell of Staunton.

Del. Bell introduced HB 1306 in the General Assembly session now underway. It would require every 11th grade student in public schools to pass the civics portion of the U.S. Naturalization Test as a requirement for graduation.

By a 6-4 vote, a subcommittee referred the bill to the full House Comm...

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