Schools have done a good job structuring a curriculum beneficial to most students. I suggest that they implement a mandatory, critical thinking class which MUST be passed before graduation.

That class would be structured exclusively on the U.S. Constitution. It would be taught each year; beginning in third grade. It would require students to understand, interpret and convincingly express, in their own words, what it specifically means.

Today, too many people erroneously believe that the Constitution can only be interpreted by “someone” else. Until each citizen understands that founding document of America, they can never hope to really be Americans.

The senior graduating exam would be both written and verbal.

All questions would be graded by a panel consisting of, at least, the teacher, two parents, two other students and the student taking the test.

One section of that final exam could ask the meaning of particular statements:

Make no law respecting establishment of religion, or prohibiting free exercise thereof.

The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

No Soldier shall be quartered in any house without consent of the Owner, or as prescribed by law.

The right of people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects shall not be violated.

No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.

No private property shall be taken for public use, without just compensation.

In suits at common law, exceeding $20, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved.

No fact tried by a jury, shall be re-examined in any Court.

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.

Enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

These basic concepts are well within the grasp of any truly educated individual. Those who cannot or will not understand these and other plain concepts of the U.S. Constitution should be considered unqualified to vote.