Shockingly, Civics Is No Longer Taught In American Schools -- And That Explains So Much
It makes more sense now -- the absolutely insane devaluing of free speech on campus, the sheep-like response to the TSA from most people, eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, and so many other abuses that people do nothing about.
I don't have kids, so I had no idea that kids are no longer being schooled in civics. But American government was one of the great classes I had in high school. It's where I learned, just to name a few examples, that we have three branches of government (executive, judicial, and legislative) that provide "checks and balances" on each other, that there are 100 Senators, the rules of succession in case the President dies or is killed, and, most importantly, about the Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Truth be told, I already knew a bit about those from Conjunction Junction...sing along now, "I'm just a bill..." I'd also read about how things were in other countries -- like in Russia, where they could ask for your papers even if you'd done nothing wrong. Even at age 13, I understood the value of our right to free speech. At 15, there was some stink about something I'd written in my column in the high school newspaper, and I learned even more.
How much do kids now know about our system, and whose bright idea was it to remove civics from education?
I read about this in a post someone tweeted. Here's that post.
Ian Schwartz posted at Real Clear Politics:
Actor Richard Dreyfuss appeared on Tucker Carlson's FOX News show Friday night to talk about his passion of American civics and political correctness on campus. The Academy Award-winning actor Dreyfuss explained the importance of teaching civics, something he said that has not been taught in American schools since 1970. The U.S. Department of Education was established in 1979.Dreyfuss also addressed the ongoing problem of free speech and debate on the U.S. college campus. Dreyfuss said attempts to stop speakers from addressing college students is an "intrusion into freedom of speech."
Dreyfuss said the current situation is "political correctness taken to a nightmarish point of view."
A statement from Richard Dreyfus on this:
I have withdrawn from partisan politics. I am a constitutionalist who believes that the Constitution and the Bill of Rights must be central and the parties must be peripheral. What's most important for me is what you just mentioned haphazardly, we are over 30. Civics has not been taught in the American public school system since 1970. And that means everyone in Congress never studied the constitution and the bill of rights as you and I might have.And that is a critical flaw because it's why we were admired and respected for so long, it gives us our national identity, it tells the world who we are and why we are who we are, and without a frame that gives us values that stand behind the bill of rights, we're just floating in the air and our sectors of society are not connected.
What's really important is that the assumptions of the left and the right are all skewed wrong. We have to find areas of agreement and areas that we share. And we do share the notion that education accomplishes certain things. One, it turns students into citizens. And, two, it teaches students how to run the country before it's their turn to run the country. And, three, it teaches the values of this nation.
People come from all over the world or are born into this nation without the values that we have here. That's why they came here, to get them. And what are they? You can put them in opportunity, rise by merit, mobility, and freedom. That's what we sell. And if you don't want that, you've chosen the wrong place. And you don't get a pass by being born here, you have to learn it. Even the Ten Commandments are not known at birth. You must learn them. And we must learn our values and if we don't, we are fatally, fatally wounding ourselves. We will not have any way to really combat the ideas behind ISIS because we won't know our own. And we have to.
I'm all for The Dreyfus Civics Initiative, and I respect the hell out of him and I'm grateful to him for getting behind this.
The Dreyfuss Civics Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that aims to revive the teaching of civics in American public education to empower future generations with the critical-thinking skills they need to fulfill the vast potential of American citizenship.
Government wasn't just taught at my high school. It was a required course you had to pass in order to graduate. Class of 82. Local school boards still control in the end. If there's no federal requirement, that doesn't mean that it isn't taught.
Andrew Millard at April 30, 2017 3:50 AM
Here in my rural community it is still required. The eighth grade students have to take it. My son loved his civics class. For a few years he wanted to become a teacher so he could teach civics and be like his favorite teacher. He still toys with that idea, but has leaned more towards trying for a Mike Rowe scholarship to become a welder.
rsj at April 30, 2017 5:09 AM
American Government was also a required course in mine. I loved my class, too.
Our country has its problems, but there is no country that is freer, and I am extremely grateful and thankful to be an American citizen.
Amy Alkon at April 30, 2017 5:21 AM
Hate speech all of you.
I'm so afraid for my safety from the harsh statements you are making and how threatening you are to my agency.
If I was in college I could complain and they would boycott and protest/riot and provide a safe space with some coloring books.
Damn Nazis!
(sarcasm key on)
Bob in Texas at April 30, 2017 6:26 AM
It was pretty clear after the twitter commentary on the last election that most people have no idea about the structure of our government, the electoral college, and election law.
They were convinced that there must be a way to force a Trump resignation, and end up with their preferred candidate Hillary.
I wondered how people got these crazy ideas, and then I started binge watching The Good Wife while I was in Japan, and it all became clear.
It is an entertaining drama that runs roughshod over the Constitution, civil and criminal proceedure, AND election laws.
This is what apparently now passes for a civics education in this country.
Isab at April 30, 2017 7:24 AM
I doubt that Mr. Dreyfus and I would agree on much politically, but I'm all for his civics initiative as well. Each and every person in this country should know about our government and how it works. If enough people do not, we will eventually happily elect a true dictator.
mpetrie98 at April 30, 2017 10:39 AM
One year of American government (taught junior year) was a requirement for graduation in my public high school in the 1980s. And it was a thorough, tough course.
Kevin at April 30, 2017 12:30 PM
Freedom is all about the rights. Responsibilities are fascist.
Gog_Magog_Carpet_Reclaimers at April 30, 2017 3:07 PM
I wish they did require a civics class for high school students. But I wouldn't expect the emotionally unstable, hyper-PC, leftist SJWs who teach in the public schools to be any better at teaching civics than they are at teaching sex ed, history or anything else. How can the kind of people who are driven berserk by Milo or who melt down at the sight of a pink Hello Kitty Bubble Gun teach about the Bill of Rights? Especially people who couldn't care less about the Constitution even if they did know what it says.
Ken R at April 30, 2017 9:13 PM
But I wouldn't expect the emotionally unstable, hyper-PC, leftist SJWs who teach in the public schools to be any better at teaching civics than they are at teaching sex ed, history or anything else.
Pretty much about how I feel about the parents, who clearly don't teach any of this stuff at home, either.
Kevin at April 30, 2017 9:59 PM
My son's eighth grade civics teacher was great. Kept it to just the civics facts. She did such a great job that when the election rolled around every debate night was pizza night at our house and we watched them, for fun.
There are still civics classes in schools! Taught by good teachers.
If there aren't where you all are, it is time for the parents and local residents to exert some local control.
Quit whining and having a sad with a side of outrage and change it.
rsj at May 1, 2017 4:10 AM
I took Civics in high school (class of '83), but I can tell you that a number of my classmates, who were undoubtedly in the same classrooms with the same teachers that I was, have no idea how the system is supposed to work.
I commend Mr. Dreyfus, but let's not kid ourselves that understanding the system is going to be the same as using it as intended. Abuse of the Constitution for power and gain is as old as, well, as the Constitution. My 4g'grandfather gave a speech in Congress in 1847 about the misuse of the Interstate Commerce Clause to justify Federal funding of roads.
Grey Ghost at May 1, 2017 5:18 AM
Building a house impressed upon me just to what extent government can get into your shorts when you decide that you want to do something more than just exist. Whenever we got tripped up on some aspect of building code, city ordinance, or just procedure that we weren't aware of, my wife and I took to sarcastically referring to these moments as "civics lessons". If you *really* want a harsh lesson on the size and scope of government, try (1) building, (2) starting a business, or (3) filing for a patent. This is where stuff gets real. No high school course prepares you for this.
Cousin Dave at May 1, 2017 6:44 AM
If there aren't where you all are, it is time for the parents and local residents to exert some local control. Quit whining and having a sad with a side of outrage and change it.
THANK YOU.
Kevin at May 1, 2017 8:54 AM
Civics was part of the social studies curriculum with history and geography, it wasn't it's own class, but is certainly was taught in the 90s.
Of course, when schools are run by the local level you're going to get a lot of differences.
NicoleK at May 8, 2017 6:38 AM
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