The 74 Million – Carolyn Phenicie
“It is, without a doubt, a time of rapid change in America: a time of protests in Ferguson, Baltimore and the Black Lives Matter Movement; a time when congressional Republicans threaten to shutter the federal government over funding for Planned Parenthood; a time of new civil rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. But while most American students receive some form of civics education, experts say the current curriculum is falling short in preparing children of the 21st century to become active citizens in our evolving democracy. Nearly all states require high schoolers to take at least one social studies class, and most require civics. That class, though, which often teaches students little more than the three branches of government, should be the floor, not the ceiling, of what we teach teenagers before they enter the real world and we expect them to be productive citizens, experts say. Susan Griffin, executive director of the National Council for the Social Studies, illustrates her point with a scenario: Say you want a new stop sign installed on your street. A good civics education will teach you not only which level of government you should approach with your request, but also how to collaborate with neighbors in advocating more effectively, and where/how to research data on car accidents that might bolster your traffic safety request.”(more)