Idaho lawmakers take state history quiz; some fail

[January 13, 2011]  BOISE, Idaho (AP) -- Audience members got a brief chuckle during a legislative hearing at the Idaho Capitol, when lawmakers were hit with a pop quiz on their state's history -- and not everyone passed.

Public schools chief Tom Luna demonstrated new technology being used in Idaho classrooms during a presentation Wednesday to the 27 lawmakers on the state Senate and House education committees.

He asked lawmakers two questions and gave them each an electronic device that functions like a remote to input their answers.

Luna asked what year Idaho became a state, and the legislators' answers were calculated and projected on a screen. It showed 17 percent of lawmakers on the two education panels didn't know the answer: 1890.

When asked which town was Idaho's first capital, 15 percent did not know the correct answer: Lewiston.

[Associated Press]

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