It is my theory that this government – our government – is able to take away our constitutional rights, lay waste to the environment in pursuit of profit, allow media outlets to deteriorate into marketing onslaughts, legislate against the common good, get away with lying, stealing, cheating and generally profiting at the expense of us non-rich folk… for one primary reason:
Our educational system in this country is not sufficiently teaching our children about Civics and the importance of being knowledgeable, participating members of society. To elaborate and support my theory, I have copied and pasted the following for you to read and ponder. The better educated the citizenry of a democracy is, I believe, the more patriotic s/he tends to be… or rather is justified in being. Enjoy.
In recent years, study after study has shown that most students in the United States have poor knowledge of and limited engagement with civic education.
In a 1998 survey conducted by the National Constitution Center, an independent nonprofit group, more teens could name the Three Stooges than the three branches of government. In that same year, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) Civics Report Card to the Nation showed that only 25 percent of students were receiving adequate education in civics.
Results from the most recent nationwide United States history test administered by the U.S. Department of Education in 2001 showed that only 18 percent of fourth-graders, 17 percent of eighth-graders and 11 percent of 12th-graders scored at a proficient level. For each grade, the more hours a student watched television, the lower their scores. These results come at the same time as voter participation is declining. Even in the last presidential election, when there was a surge in new voter registration, less than half of the eligible 18- to 24-year-olds voted.
Despite these gloomy statistics, there are few signs that renewed emphasis will be placed on civic education on a national scale anytime soon. With the requirements imposed by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that all students be tested annually in reading and math in grades 3 through 8, the emphasis across the country is focused primarily on improving basic skills.
“NCLB has done more harm to social studies education than anything else,” says Rick Theisen, former president of the National Council for Social Studies (NCSS). “If it’s not tested, it�s not taught, and if it�s not tested, it’s not funded.”
Until the late 1960s, formal civic education often comprised up to three courses, usually civics, democracy and government, in addition to U.S. history. A recent study, “The Civic Mission of Schools,” revealed a continuing trend throughout the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s to condense those civic education courses into a single course.
Competent and responsible citizens:
- are informed and thoughtful about the principles and practices of democracy
- participate in their communities through membership in voluntary civil associations
- act politically to accomplish public purposes
- have moral and civic virtues, such as responsibility of the common good
U. S. schools are failing not only to teach the necessary basic knowledge about democracy and citizenship but also the necessary critical thinking skills and “attitudes and dispositions of productive citizenship.”
The above was taken from The State of Civic Education: Teaching the Citizens of Tomorrow
Additional Resources:
National Council for the Social Studies
The largest organization in the country devoted to social studies education
Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools
Here you can download an advocacy toolkit.
The National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) Civics Report Card to the Nation
Results of the 1998 assessment in civics
Facing History and Ourselves
Facing History is an organization that helps students find meaning in the past and recognize the need for participation and responsible decision making. They provide professional development to teachers and are co-partners in the Facing History School in New York.
Sojourn to the Past
Find information on their civil rights education trips to the South for high school students and staff.
http://www.firstamendmentfuture.org/
http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/aboutUs/overview/overview.htm
http://www.teachfirstamendment.org/civics.html
- Tekstone
Posted by tekstone 
Posted by A.Citizen 
Posted by A.Citizen 
