What is Civics Education?
Why is it important?
Photo Credit: Norman Law Firm
Issue #173 Education November 9, 2022
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How Civics Was Taught before the 21st century
When I was in elementary school, way back in the middle of the last century, we had civics education starting as early as fourth grade. I remember learning the protocols for how to display the United States flag and how to stand and where to place your hand during the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem. That information was taught to us just as information, with no political indoctrination one way or the other.
We were also taught all about the branches of the United States and state governments, who our representatives were, and what their roles and duties were.
And most of all, we were taught the importance of voting in all elections. A couple of days before an election, those old-school voting machines were delivered to the school and prepared for the upcoming election. They were the ones that were individual and had curtains and little levers to push down to make your selection. When you entered the voting booth, you pulled that big heavy lever to close the curtain for privacy, then you pulled all of the little levers for the candidates of your choice. When you again pulled the big lever to open the curtain, the little levers you pushed down for your choices went back up and that is how your votes were recorded.
The day before the election, from 5th grade on as I remember, we all went together with our classes and used those voting machines to “vote,” Our teachers taught us how to work the machine, but did not tell us who to vote for. We really felt like grown-ups!
Even earlier in my life than that, my maternal grandmother dragged 5-year-old me with her after school, going house to house to house, registering people to vote, and reminding them about an upcoming election. Then when we got back to her house, I sat next to her checking off names as she dialed number after number after number to tell people the same information about the upcoming election. This is how I learned how important citizen participation was for our representative democracy.No wonder I was the best reader in my 1st-grade class!
What should be included in Civics Education?
In today’s hyper-political environment, “civics” education has become synonymous with partisan indoctrination, particularly on the right, where “America First,” white supremacy, and white-washing of American history are the norm. Teaching the actual truth about American History, both good and bad, is dismissed as “socialism” and mislabeled “CRT.”
As a retired educator of all levels from prekindergarten through university levels, I have a unique context for teaching Civics.
Civics education at all levels should include age-appropriate true knowledge of American History, the structures and processes of the different branches of government, how the American legal system works, and social and political movements throughout our history.
The Founders can be honored for their contribution to building an entirely new country unlike any other in history while still recognizing their biases and failings.
The Confederacy was an insurrection against the United States of America and Confederate generals and leaders were not heroes, but traitors. The Civil War was fought to enshrine slavery and white supremacy.
Civics education should also teach students how to explain and analyze those matters that occur in civil life. Many people do not realize that local elections, local politicians, and local issues have a more direct effect on their lives than presidents and congresspeople. This entails teaching students critical thinking skills. The right-wing pushes against critical thinking, empathy, and analyzing skills as being “woke” and discourages students from learning these skills.
Finally, civics skills should include participatory information and engagement. Unlike the attacks, name-calling, and mud-slinging used primarily by one political party, civic participatory skills include knowing how to plan strategically for civic change, engaging in dialogue with those who may hold different perspectives, and building consensus, tolerance, and respect.
Why is Civics Education Needed?
First and foremost, civics education is needed to preserve and enhance our always-fragile democratic experiment in self-governing.
As I write this, it is the day after the November 2022 midterm elections. Throughout this recent campaign season, it was repeatedly warned that democracy itself was on the ballot. It is popularly acknowledged that our democracy held strong—for now.
Civics participation involves more than just voting every four years. Civics education is needed to prepare students to be informed and engaged citizens throughout their lives and between presidential elections.
In politics, civics, business, and life, knowing how something should work actually makes it work better.
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