The document discusses the decrease of student scores on the citizenship section of the statewide Pennsylvania Educational Quality Assessment (EQA). The document presents an overview of the Pennsylvania State Board of Education goals, describes behaviors that EQA measures, and provides sample questions for fifth, eighth, and eleventh-grade students. Behaviors are categorized according to a sense of the welfare and dignity of others, respect for law and authority, and personal responsibility and integrity. Fifth-grade students respond with yes, no, or maybe to statements such as: I would make fun of someone who played a game poorly; or I would throw snowballs at a passing car if I knew I wouldn't get caught. Eighth and eleventh-grade students are asked to respond to hypothetical situations such as observing someone shoplifting. Results of the EQA illustrate the greatest decrease in scores from 1974 to 1976 in the areas of responsibility and integrity, with respect for law and authority and welfare and dignity of others also decreasing. The author stresses that the test is both valid and reliable; thus the instrument itself cannot account for the decline. Also the suggestion that students are more reflective and have a tendency to select the "maybe" answer is not supported by data. Suggested causes for decreasing scores include the fact that students watch over 17,000 hours of television by the time they graduate; unions, minority groups, and politicians who commit crimes and are exonerated through plea-bargaining do not set a socially responsible example; and the divorce rate has decreased the traditional role of the family. (Author/KC)