• What is a “Citizenship School”?
• How citizenship classes were conducted at Highlander Folk School during the civil rights era? What made this method of instruction both necessary and effective?
• Read some of the questions in the 1965 Alabama literacy test, which was intended to discourage or prevent African Americans from voting. Are any of the questions tricky or unfair? How relevant any of these questions to the act of voting? What were the obstacles to qualifying to voter registration. How might the obstacles have been surmounted?
• Compare the 1965 Alabama literacy test with the current U.S. Naturalization Test. The current citizenship test has to be taken by persons/immigrants applying to become citizens. Are there similarities or differences in the questions?
• Where are we today? How might citizenship schools be conducted today? What purpose would they serve?
Sample Solution