I can probably count on the fingers of both hands some idea that’s come from the state legislature that I like and if I limit it to Republican ideas I can put one hand in my pocket.

But this is one of those very rare occasions when I actually love a suggestion from Republican Rep. James Edming who is from Glen Flora, a city or village I have never heard of.

Edming wants every high school student in the state to take and pass a civics test before they can graduate. Fail and you can take it again and again and again, but if you don’t pass, you don’t graduate.

I love this idea even though it has the smell of another shot at teachers and their union.

It’s not like I go around asking everyone I meet to answer some civics question. But in normal conversation I am often amazed how many adults have no idea who represents them or what the difference is between the Common Council and the Board of Supervisors.

I don’t think this knowledge is crucial to success for anyone, but I do think it’s important for a couple of reasons.

One is that it helps to be engaged and part of the process of making Milwaukee a good place to live. For example NEWaukee is a force of 201,000 subscribers who are committed to having a good time and helping to make Milwaukee a great place to live and work.

Part of that commitment – a big part – is knowing how to work the system to get what you want. That kind of political activity is not for novices. I wonder how many of those subscribers could pass the test. 

If  you want to participate you have to know how the system works, and that involves both current events and a sense of history. You don't need to be a "Jeopardy" expert, but having some idea about how things work and who makes them work is a pretty good idea for an educational system. 

The usual suspects are bitching and moaning about this proposal, which is a provision in the state budget. Teachers and the ACLU don’t like it because it places the burden of yet another test on students. I am one who thinks it’s possible to overtest kids. But on this one it’s easy to get on board.

You can see a 100-question test here. Part one has the questions and part two has the answers.

I took the test but I’m not going to reveal my answers. Maybe everyone who reads this should give it a try. If you miss 25 or more questions that gives you a 75% score. I don’t know what it is now, but when I was going to school a 75% was a D+. If you get one of those, you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

I think math and science are very important things for kids to learn in school. I also think kids should be taught about personal finance and how to drive safely. But a sense of civic responsibility is also important and while a test won’t teach someone to be responsible, it will at least help them think about it.