Civics class required for high school graduation will push the envelope

[ashling]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-civics-required-for-graduation-met-20150907-story.html

The civics law signed recently by Gov. Bruce Rauner creates the most prescriptive state graduation requirement on the books in Illinois, and has the potential to push students, families and even teachers out of their comfort zones, educators and policy experts say.


Unlike the generic four years of language arts or two years of science, the civics requirement of at least one semester spells out what must be taught: "Civics course content shall focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process."

Those activities are far more provocative than memorizing the three branches of government or the Bill of Rights, and educators say civics instruction will likely be aimed at juniors or seniors, because they are more mature than younger high school students.

[CrispyQ]

1. We had Civics in 5th grade & American Problems in 12th.

It's shameful how many Americans can't name their Senators or Rep.

I was at a dinner party a few months ago when that topic came up somehow. Those who knew their senators/rep raised their hands. 20%. No shit. So one in five pays attention enough to know that. Good grief, no wonder we are in the spot we are in.

[KamaAina]

7. Think how many can't name their state senators or reps.

Or city councilmembers or county supervisors.

Now you have an idea what it's like to try and organize around state and local issues.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. Was 'American Problems' a subset of 'First World Problems'?

It seems an odd title for a course.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. I don't want to register or subscribe

I keep getting looped back to the Chicago Tribune landing page as a result. Is the idea that civics is a 'bad thing'?

I don't have kids and graduated in 1991 - granted a prep school in Western NY but . . .

Is civics no longer taught? Has it not been taught for the past few decades? This was a basic part of my social justice classes. They focused on Civics in the first half of our 2nd quarter of Senior years as for the most part, we started turning 18 after the first of the year.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

12. Texas: 1 semester of government & 1 semester of economics

I don't know how much more would be covered in an actual civics class.

[tblue37]

3. In my daughter's AP US history class, students were encouraged to study the issues and candidates

for our city commission election and then volunteer to work on the campaign of the candidate whose positions they favored. (This was back in 1997 or 1998.)

That was a great approach to teaching civics, which the teacher considered to be an essential aspect of the study of US history.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. That sounds like my HS civics class in Mexico City

back in the Cambrian.

So what is the problem?

By the way, when my husband took US Government in college it was kind of funny, We cover city hall, that is one of the assignments for the students, to go sit in at one meeting. Instructor had no idea how to deal with him, since we have some photos of well Filner's last day on the job as well.

And it is bad when the student can discuss with authority the city budget, almost line by line.

[bvar22]

5. I have a few problems with this.

"Civics course content shall focus on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process."

"Those activities are far more provocative than memorizing the three branches of government or the Bill of Rights,"

<from above clip>

Without "memorizing" the Three Branches of Government,
or studying the Bill of Rights..... the rest is useless,
and may be a Trojan Horse for something far worse.

The Three Branches of Government and the Bill of Rights should be the Foundation and whole 1st Chapter of ANY "Civics" Course.

[jtuck004]

6. "simulations of the democratic process" < Because they can't find any in the wild? n/t

[KamaAina]

9. Actually, Chicago wrote the book on "simulations of the democratic process".

[ScreamingMeemie]

13. ...

ZING!

[KamaAina]

8. Maybe they could give HS seniors the citizenship test

Although, these days, that might be considered an AP exam.

[LeftyMom]

10. We did all of that, minus the volunteering, in elementary school.

We did write position papers (third grade!) and hold formal debates (fifth grade) on current events.

By middle school we were also doing service learning (we were given free rein to dream up and organize our projects) on local issues and writing our congresscritters.

Honestly, the problem with six months of civics in HS is that it's too little and too late.