Monfredo: Civics/History Education - A Cornerstone of the Democratic Process

Saturday, April 04, 2015

John Monfredo, GoLocalWorcester MINDSETTER™

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (known as the Nation’s Report Card) data published several years ago revealed that only about one-quarter of American students scored at or above proficient in their grasp of United States History. Students’ lack of basic civic or history knowledge should be a concern for everyone.

Focus in our schools on core academics and the rise of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education has pushed the teaching of U.S. History and Civics to the back of the curriculum. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that today’s students are demonstrating low levels of proficiency in American History and limited knowledge of our political system. Studies show that in the last presidential election, when there was a surge in new voter registration, less than half of the eligible 18- to 24-year-olds voted. These are our future leaders! How sad is this?

According to the research, American students are less proficient in their nation’s history than in any other subject. The results of a nationwide test showed that most fourth graders were unable to say why Abraham Lincoln was an important figure and few high school seniors are able to identify China as the North Korean ally that fought American troops during the Korean War.

Therefore many states have reacted to these statistics and are pushing for change. Two states … Arizona and North Dakota, just recently, passed legislation requiring students to correctly answer a portion of the exam administered by the federal Citizenship and Immigration Services to people seeking U.S. citizenship, in order to graduate from high school. In addition, 17 other states are considering bills based on the Civics Education Initiative and will tie in graduation requirements based on civics knowledge.

As well intended as these states are it does not serve students well in taking the Citizenship test only for students need to develop civics skills and become aware of the importance of voting. They need to know more about our American History and know more about our basic rights as United States citizens. However, I would encourage all school systems to have their students take the citizenship exam so that they have an idea of what immigrants have to do to become U.S. citizens and to test their knowledge about basic questions that everyone should know about their country. At the present we are over-testing our students and another test in order to graduate should not be considered but exposure to the test should definitely be added to the history curriculum.

As I stated the test would give students some insight on what the knowledge basis is for immigrants becoming new citizens. I suggest that a pre and post test be given prior to a history/civic course that the students take in their junior or senior year.

Here is a sample of some of the test questions and if you don’t know the answers they are there too.

What is the supreme law of the land?

▪ The Constitution

What does the Constitution do?

▪ sets up the government

▪ defines the government

▪ protects basic rights of Americans

3. The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?

▪ We the People

4. What is an amendment?

▪ A change (to the Constitution)

▪ An addition (to the Constitution)

5. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

▪ The Bill of Rights

6. What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?*

▪ Speech

▪ Religion

▪ Assembly

▪ Press

▪ Petition the government

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have? 27

8. There are four amendments to the Constitution about who can vote. Describe one of them.

▪ Citizens eighteen (18) and older (can vote).

▪ You don’t have to pay (a poll tax) to vote.

▪ Any citizen can vote. (Women and men can vote.)

▪ A male citizen of any race (can vote).

9. What is one responsibility that is only for United States citizens?*

▪ Serve on a jury

▪ Vote in a federal election

10. Name one right only for United States citizens.

▪ Vote in a federal election

▪ Run for federal office

There are many individuals in this country who feel schools need to develop a curriculum that would engage and teach our students the importance of American History. However, if only the citizenship test were given there would be more focus on the test and passing and not the meaning of it. According the Center for information and Research on Civic Learning Engagement (CIRCLE) most Americans say it’s important to high school students to study Civics and Government but Civic engagement in our schools is not happening. We also need additional after school activities such as what used to be in the Worcester Schools … “A Model Congress Club” where students debated current political issues and learned about what it takes to be a citizen. What about “Constitution Day” in our schools... September 17th? Are you aware that there is a federal law, passed in 2004, declaring September 17th to be “Constitution Day”. It requires all educational institutions receiving federal funds to hold programs on the Constitution.

Also, the Research group on Civic Learning Engagement made public a position paper on Civic engagement and one part listed good teaching practices that can lead to increased city knowledge and engagement of students:

Emphasize formal instruction in government, law, history and democracy
Incorporate discussion of current events-local, national and international - and especially those that students perceive to be important to their lives, into classroom discussions
Provide students with opportunities to apply formal civic learning in the classroom to community service projects connected to the curriculum
Offer extracurricular activities that provide opportunities for students to be involved in their schools and communities
Encourage students to participate in school governance
Encourage student participation in simulations of democratic processes and procedures

These suggestions do make sense and perhaps need to be addressed at the district level.

Perhaps Pulitzer-Prize Journalist, Carl Berbstein said it best:

“If we want our political process more open and free, with a truly informed citizenry, our young people need to learn real-time civics and real history....that way they can take pride in our country based on the complexities, and the richness, and the real contradictions in the American story.