A for Real question for parents of school agers on DU

[SwampG8r]

is civics still a requirement?
when i went to high school we had to take civics as a requirement for graduation
when my kids went to the same school it was not required
is civics required by your kids school?
do you think teaching civics helps kids have a handle on the process of government?

[NewJeffCT]

1. I have no clue if it is required or not

I never took a civics class, and I graduated high school in the mid 80s. I think civics was a part of "social studies" - which included history and all that jazz.

My daughter is in 3rd grade. I think they do some Connecticuty history this year.

[seabeyond]

2. ours was called govt class. we had to take a year? in high school.

i checked with aisd and it shows govt class also. i read the discription and it is all of that stuff. so it appears that in this area, yes, they have to take it.

[HopeHoops]

3. They don't call it that, but it is integrated into various other classes now.

On Edit:

I gave each of my three daughters a copy of the pocket book containing the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution. That's something that they should just hand out in every school they only cost $1.99 individually so I'm sure schools could get them in bulk for a fraction of that price.


http://www.amazon.com/Declaration-Independence-Constitution-America-Paperback/dp/1935308351/ref=tmm_pap_title_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1284483556&sr=1-1

[tigereye]

7. yes, great idea!

[Rosie1223]

4. Civics is a semester class required for graduation in our HS district

Therefore it so basic as to keep everyone on graduation track -- don't want the graduation rate to look bad on the school's report card!

[rug]

5. Civics in public schools has been reduced to metal detectors and urine tests.

[LibertyLover]

6. I graduated high school in 1971 and didn't have to take Civics

because I was in the Honors class. I could have taken it in 10th grade instead of US History, but was dissuaded from doing so by my guidance councilor who told me it would look bad on my transcript for college. So I did a year of world history and 3 years of US history, all honors classes. We learned some Civics along the way in US history. But at least I was prepared to take the AP tests in World History and US History and could have placed out of history in college, except that I was, after freshman year, a history major. It's kind of hard in that case to place out of history classes.

[lightningandsnow]

8. It's a requirement in all Ontario high schools.

It's taught for half a year, and careers (also required) is taught for the other half. It's a grade 10 course. :hi:

[surrealAmerican]

9. In my district it's part of the social studies curriculum ...

... in middle school. The state requires that students pass an exam on the federal and the state constitutions by the end of eighth grade.

[jobycom]

10. Yes, in Texas, although I think you can take econ instead.

You have to have 4 social studies courses, which can be in history, government or economics.

I don't know if it helps or not. I think I learned more about government from the Schoolhouse Rock jingles, until I got to college. That was in Mississippi, though. We weren't the top rung of the educational ladder back then.

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. Mine are still in grade/middle school. They have covered the most basic

stuff at this point. ElderGreenKid covered it far more in depth through a Boy Scouts program not long ago. For the local level he had to go to a town meeting, and also interview a selectman. State/Federal level he wrote a letter to Olympia Snowe. He also, for the heck of it, went to a Greens caucus with my dad.

He was thinking for a while he'd like get involved in politics or environmental law, but right now his passion is green architecture. When he was 3 it was going to Mars, though, so I am sure he's got a few more evolutions to go through before he decides what to be when he grows up. :D

[SwampG8r]

12. mars will need

green architecture so continue to encourage him

[GreenPartyVoter]

17. LOL Will do. :^)

[fizzgig]

13. as best as i can tell, there is not a specific civics course required for graduation in my district

i grew up here and had to take civics as a freshman, but this is all the info i could find on the current requirements:

Social Studies, 25 credits to include skills in geography, civics, history, economics. (Must include United States History and United States Government by Colorado State Statute.)

[The Midway Rebel]

14. It depends on the state and the district.

For now any way.

Whatever the case, they don't call it civics anymore.

[elleng]

15. Yes, or it was, and it should be.

Daughter had an excellent teacher in h.s. who had them follow a current issue through the news cycle >>> legislation >>> implementation. Interesting and obviously useful educational tool.

[Petrushka]

16. Here's a link where you'll find the state-by-state requirements for citizenship studies --->

http://mb2.ecs.org/reports/Report.aspx?id=115