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Wednesday, November 11, 2026Nov 11

Greeson: Here’s an all-too-familiar civics lesson for all us — test optional

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01000000; 11000000; ACE; krtcampus campus; krtentertainment entertainment; krtgovernment government; krtnational national; krtpolitics politics; POL; krt; mctillustration; 01028000; krtculture culture; krthistory history; 11015000; constitution; krtuspolitics; 10011000; day 4th; FEA; krtfeatures features; krtfourth fourth of july independence; krtholiday holiday; krtlifestyle lifestyle; krtsummer summer; LEI; leisure; LIF; public holiday; bz contributed; krtnamer north america; u.s. us united states; USA; 2010; krt2010 01000000; 11000000; ACE; krtcampus campus; krtentertainment entertainment; krtgovernment government; krtnational national; krtpolitics politics; POL; krt; mctillustration; 01028000; krtculture culture; krthistory history; 11015000; constitution; krtuspolitics; 10011000; day 4th; FEA; krtfeatures features; krtfourth fourth of july independence; krtholiday holiday; krtlifestyle lifestyle; krtsummer summer; LEI; leisure; LIF; public holiday; bz contributed; krtnamer north america; u.s. us united states; USA; 2010; krt2010

We have become a cynical society.

We hear details of ridiculous wastes of taxpayers’ money for this boondoggle or that.

Here’s another one to file away.

photo Jay Greeson

A state law recently passed – using time and resources provided by the state’s taxpayers, mind you – known as HB10, will require graduating high school seniors in Tennessee to take a civics test before getting their diplomas.

It’s a novel concept in several ways. Local state Rep. Gerald McCormick, who was a co-author of HB10, told the Knoxville News Sentinel that surveys and studies show high school students’ knowledge about United States civics is “pathetic.”