Civics Failure in Public Education

Paul Soglin:

While everyone is weighing in on the best way to teach our kids, I cannot get over the failure to educate youngsters about American institutions.

The more inclusive and more truthful curriculum about our nation's history that is taught today is a vast step forward. However, when I graduated from high school I could discuss the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the the Declaration of Independence and their inherent contradictions. I knew the three branches of government and their powers.

There are some teachers who emphasize civics. A great teacher friend recently mentioned "if we're doing such a good job with the students, why are so few people asking questions of our government?"

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 2, 2007 5:17 AM
Subscribe to this site via RSS/Atom: Newsletter signup | Send us your ideas