Most Americans today expect graduating college students to have a basic understanding of American history and some knowledge of government, international affairs and economics. It is more difficult to succeed in life without this knowledge, especially about one’s own country – how it started and what has led to its longevity. Besides, an educated population is essential for any successful society to progress and advance knowledge, technology and living standards.

Two recent studies (2005 and 2006) by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s National Civic Literacy Board tested 14,000 freshmen and seniors at 50 U.S. colleges and universities on 60 multiple-choice civics questions (take the quiz at americancivicliteracy.org). The average 2005 score was 53.2 percent – a failing grade. In 2006, the college seniors again failed all civics subjects. The studies’ additional findings revealed (not surprisingly) that higher quality family life contributes to more learning about America, and that minority students are underserved by American colleges in learning our national heritage. Unfortunately, the average foreign student learns little about America’s history and institutions, thus squandering an opportunity to appreciate how the United States can play a constructive role in an increasingly dangerous world.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, which has evaluated the condition of American education since 1969, released its latest “Nation’s Report Card” last year. The civics report card showed that American school systems – especially American students – are failing in the area of civics education, and young people are not becoming informed, engaged citizens of our country. Students who obtain a working knowledge of civics during college are more likely to vote and be part of civic dialogue than students who do not learn about the founding of America, the economic system which governs and sustains us and the institutions that drive public policy.

On Nov. 19, 2007, the National Endowment for the Arts released the results of a comprehensive study showing that Americans are reading less, are reading less well, and that these declines in reading have civic, social and economic implications. Declines in reading and test scores go hand in hand and have serious consequences for our society. Americans who can’t read are going to have a tough time getting a good job.

As college costs and the taxes we pay for public education continue to increase, each of us should demand and expect more of the civics education being taught at K-12 and post-secondary schools. Otherwise, coming generations of students who lack such basic civics education will be unaware of the founding principles of our country, unconvinced to take steps to protect them and unable to perpetuate the greatness of our representative democracy and its economic system.

As a former member of Congress who “lived” a formal civics education for 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, I saw firsthand that a solid background in history, economics, law and government makes for better judgments, analysis and understanding of the complex problems of society and America’s place in the world.

I can also testify that every student I selected for the House Page School and every student intern we hired from Eastern Washington came to the nation’s capital unsure about the workings of government, but left with remarkable confidence and knowledge of our country and the world at large, and an extraordinary commitment to make both better. Welcoming thousands of Eastern Washington constituents to Washington, D.C., convinced me that while there is a general lack of civics knowledge, there exists a genuine enthusiasm to comprehend the majesty and depth of America’s rich heritage.

But we shouldn’t leave a civics education requirement to only those who serve in public office. It is the job of each of us, regardless of the occupation or profession we seek or serve, to insist that greater emphasis be placed on knowing our country and its history, and how and why our economic system is the world’s best. In 2008, civics education platforms should help us determine which candidates are worthy of our precious vote.

Colleges and universities, businesses and charities, elected officials and ordinary citizens should undertake the responsibility of making sure the students of today – and tomorrow – will have a solid educational foundation and working knowledge of what has made our country and society great. Doing so will help assure that the America we have known, loved and fought to improve in the past will be an America worth fighting for, preserving and serving as a future beacon of hope and freedom for the rest of the world.