Is America Turning Into a Nation of Dunces? | The Heritage Foundation

Is America Turning Into a Nation of Dunces? | The Heritage Foundation:

What’s truly frightening is how this stunning unfamiliarity with the Constitution has bred contempt. If put to a vote today, only half of those surveyed said they would vote to adopt the Constitution. Even fewer believe that Congress should follow the Constitution. So much for the rule of law.
And speaking of law, misunderstandings regarding the judicial branch are particularly acute. The Annenberg Public Policy Center’s annual surveys, for example, show that one in four Americans thinks a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling is sent to Congress. One in four also think that “it might be better to do away with the court altogether.”
George Washington said the “education of our youth in the science of government” is vital because they are “the future guardians of the liberties of the country.” Yet the National Center for State Courts found that only 1 in 5 U.S. adults can correctly name all three branches, and 2 in 5 couldn’t name a single one.