An editorial in the Jan. 15 edition of the Chicago Sun-Times focused on the paper’s hopes for the coming administration with regard to closing the Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
But tying together the writer’s thoughts on “Gitmo” and what caught my eye about the editorial was this statement: “Our hope is that by conducting a national civics lesson, President Obama will bring the nation closer together.”
iCitizenForum.com and its writers offer a place for readers to discuss how we govern and get governed.
It’s all about civics.
Unfortunately, the subject of “civics” — and believers in its importance — for the most part disappeared from school curricula. If students get exposure to it at all, it often comes in college.
That’s way too late.
In 2002, President George W. Bush observed the 215th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution by announcing that the National Endowment for the Humanities would make support for teaching civics a “top priority.” The president said that a survey showed a majority of fourth-graders could not answer why “citizens elect people to make laws for them” in a democracy.
Yet, the lack of civics in schools remains.
A few try to address that.
For example, the Center for Civic Education, the Center on Congress at Indiana University and the National Education Association each year recognize American teachers of civics, government and related fields through American Civic Education Teacher Awards.
The program states the rationale for these awards this way: “A free society must rely on the civic knowledge, skills, and virtue of its citizens and those they elect to public office. Many institutions help to develop Americans’ knowledge and skills and shape their civic character and commitments . . . Schools, however, bear a special and historic responsibility for the development of civic competence and civic responsibility . . . To this end, the important role of teachers in preparing young people for the obligations of citizenship cannot be overstated.”
No, it cannot.
And U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., took up the issue of civics back in 2003. It served as the focus for a Heritage Foundation lecture Alexander gave. He proposed the creation of Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics and Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics. He cited updated survey results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress that showed 75 percent of fourth-, eighth- and 12th graders lacked proficiency in civics knowledge, and one-third lacked basic knowledge, making one-third of U.S. students “civic illiterates.”
“At a time when we are asking young Americans to give their lives to defend our values, we are doing a poor job of teaching just what those values are,” said Alexander.
The Sun-Times offered a welcome idea — a civics lesson from the leader of the free world. But I think that leader could use a lot of help teaching civics from schools and teachers at all levels.
Resources:
- www.heritage.org/research/education/hl784.cfm
- www.col-ed.org/cur/sst/sst197.txt
- civics-online.org
- www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
I haven't read the editorial, so don't understand Civics relationship to "Gitmo." That is a military prison housing avowed terrorists determine to destroy the United States. What am I missing?
Thanks for the note. The editorial writer uses constitutional issues related to "Gitmo" as a way to address the need for young people to have a better understanding of the U.S. constitution and how American government works. The point the writer makes and one which I agree with is that in the schools, little is taught about the function of government and the need for all people to become involved in it. Your position on "Gitmo" is clear to me. My position is we need to teach more civics through primary and secondary schooling. Mac McKerral
Thanks for the post. I think more and more teachers recognize that "teaching to the standardized test" curbs learning and free thinking. Unfortunately, administrators and bureaucrats who dole out money to schools based on school performance on those tests do not want to admit the problem. Real lessons in self-government (civics) and how our country is supposed to work have all but disappeared from public school curriculums. So, it's up to teachers like you to squeeze it in where and when you can. And I appreciate that effort. Mac McKerral
I've taught in the public school system for years and while I think your idea of having more civics lessons in school is a grand idea, it won't happen if teachers are forced to only teach the Standards of Learning. I do try to use history and current events to encourage my students' critical thinking, but it's frustrating when administrators curb that "free thinking." Are there other teachers who think that civics is important to teach?
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