Column about students being 'dumb' about civics generates ire, teachable moments in Scott County, Iowa

The North Scott Press in Eldridge, Iowa, produced some teachable moments for Scott County (county seat, Davenport) after writer Sarah Hayden, who grew up in Germany, said North Scott High School students earned the label "Dumb American" when a handful of students failed to properly answer basic government questions from a mayor at a city council meeting.

The uproar from angry students and other readers flooded the paper with letters in defense of students. One letter said: "Yes, we agree that we should know the name of our governor, but to be called dumb and embarrassing in front of the entire community was rather upsetting. Mrs. Hayden took the knowledge of five students and formed a rash opinion about the youth of America but even worse the youth of North Scott."

A letter from two government teachers said that in class discussions, "The vast majority of students were furious, indignant and felt badly for the students mentioned in the column. This, in turn, led to a discussion on freedom of the press versus humiliation of 16- and 17-year-old students." (Actually, they felt bad, not badly. Or so we hope.) The teachers also said "Other students who attended the same meeting easily answered the mayor's questions." But the teachers began the letter, "We would like to thank Ms. Hayden for the teachable moments arising" from her column.

In an online poll asking, "Should high school students be expected to be able to answer basic questions about their government, such as naming the governor of their state?" the vote is running overwhelmingly "yes." The North Scott Press is subscription only, but has given us PDFs of its pertinent pages; Hayden's column is here; the initial letter of protest is here; letters from students are here; a jump, one more student letter and the teachers' letter are here.