Civic Educ Needed in Schools; Civics, Govt Often Behind Science, Math; 'Civic Deserts,' Lack of Civic Life [View all]

Last edited Sun Oct 6, 2024, 11:28 AM - Edit history (1)

'The Need for Civic Education in 21st- Century Schools,' by Rebecca Winthrop, Brookings Institution, June 4, 2020. Edit.
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Americans’ participation in civic life is essential to sustaining our democratic form of government. Without it, a government of the people, by the people, and for the people will not last. Of increasing concern to many is the declining levels of civic engagement across the country, a trend that started several decades ago. Today, we see evidence of this in the limited civic knowledge of the American public, 1 in 4 of whom, according to a 2016 survey led by Annenberg Public Policy Center, are unable to name the 3 branches of government.

It is not only knowledge about how the government works that is lacking—confidence in our leadership is also extremely low.

According to the Pew Research Center, which tracks public trust in government, as of March 2019, only an unnerving 17 % trust the government in Washington to do the right thing. We also see this lack of engagement in civic behaviors, with Americans’ reduced participation in community organizations and lackluster participation in elections, especially among young voters.

Many reasons undoubtedly contribute to this decline in civic engagement: from political dysfunction to an actively polarized media to the growing mobility of Americans and even the technological transformation of leisure. Of particular concern is the rise of “civic deserts,” namely places where there are few to no opportunities for people to “meet, discuss issues, or address problems.” They estimate that 60 % of all rural youth live in civic deserts along with 30 % of urban and suburban Americans. Given the decline of participation in religious organizations and unions, which a large proportion of Americans consistently engaged in over the course of the 20th cent., it is clear that new forms of civic networks are needed in communities.

As one of the few social institutions present in virtually every community across America, schools can and should play an important role in catalyzing increased civic engagement. They can do this by helping young people develop and practice the knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors needed to participate in civic life. Schools can also directly provide opportunities for civic engagement as a local institution that can connect young and old people alike across the community. To do this, civic learning needs to be part and parcel of the current movement across many schools to equip young people with 21st- cent. skills. To date however, civic education experts argue that civic learning is on the margins of young people’s school experience.. 70% of 12th graders say they have never written a letter to give an opinion or solve a problem, 30% say they have never taken part in a debate—all important parts of a quality civic learning... - Read More,
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-need-for-civic-education-in-21st-century-schools/#:

The State of Civics Education (CBS News, 2019, 2 mins.). Woodbridge Senior High School in Northern Virginia, AP Civics, Democracy Class. Civics and government curriculums often take a back seat to math and science. Groups trying to improve civic education include Me Too, March for Our Lives and Never Again.