Vantage point: Is our democracy in jeopardy?
By:
CSBA President Cindy Marks
Published: August 1, 2013
What is it that makes a democracy work well? As I look around at the state of our nation and where we have come from, I see so many wonderful aspects of our American culture and government that allow for change and adaptation. But is the next generation sufficiently prepared for their roles and responsibilities to ensure a cohesive and peaceful society? Therein lies the challenge. How can we ensure that our students will be thoughtful citizens, involved in the political process, participating in their communities and possessing moral and civic virtues?
Generations of leaders, from America’s founders to the inventors of public education to elected leaders in the 20th century, have understood that these qualities are not automatically transmitted to the next generation—they must be passed down through schools. Ultimately, schools are the guardians of democracy. Investing in civic learning strengthens American democracy.
Besides protecting democracy for the future, there are also some very tangible benefits to incorporating civic learning into the school culture. Research shows that students exposed to civic learning are more likely than their counterparts to understand public issues, view political engagement as a means of addressing communal challenges, and participate in civic activities. Schools with programs such as these are more likely to be “safe, inclusive, and respectful” and have lower dropout rates. They are also proven to promote civic equality. Poor, minority, urban or rural students who receive high-quality civic education perform considerably better than those who don’t. Students who receive both traditional and interactive civics lessons score highest on assessments and demonstrate high levels of skills such as critical thinking, news comprehension and the work ethic.
What constitutes a well-rounded, high-quality civic learning experience in the schools? There are six proven practices:
- Classroom instruction: teaching government, history, economics, law and democracy
- Discussion of current events and controversial issues: fostering discussion of such issues and events into the classroom, particularly those that young people view as important to their lives
- Service learning: organizing programs that provide students with opportunities to apply what they learn through community service linked to formal curriculum and classroom instruction
- Extracurricular activities: offering opportunities for young people to get involved in their schools or communities outside of the classroom
- School governance: promoting involvement in student governance
- Simulations: Giving students experience in democratic processes and procedures
In December at the Annual Education Conference and Trade Show, you will have an opportunity to hear from students who have become actively engaged in local civic life—and how that has changed their community. This year’s session—the Juanita Haugen Memorial Lecture on Civic Education: Common Core and Civic Learning—will showcase standout programs that have earned the Civic Learning Award from the California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. The programs to be showcased at AEC on Dec. 5 are easy to replicate. You will find this session inspiring, and I encourage you to attend.
Understanding the value of democracy is a fundamental objective of public education. Help us foster a sense of commitment to civic engagement by deepening your district’s commitment to civic learning. You can also check out the curricula and resources available through the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools at
www.civicmissionofschools.org.