US History of Civics series
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U.S. History of Civics part 6: Utah’s story
As Utah continues to consider national events and state academic outcomes, the discussion about civics education will continue to ramp up. The public and policymakers can make a difference in the trajectory of civics education as they learn from the…
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U.S. History of Civics part 5: The early 2000s to the year 2020
There is no doubt that current political turmoil has sparked some of this renewed interest, and the continuation of this turmoil will make reforms to civics education one of the defining education policies of our day.
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U.S. History of Civics part 4: The U.S. Department of Education (as we know it) is born
The American Founders believed education was intended to help students understand their government and its limits and functions in their daily lives. This aspiration transcends partisan and ideological divides for public education, and its fulfillment should not be subject solely…
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U.S. History of Civics part 3: The ‘birth certificate’ of social studies
It’s no wonder the Founders taught that for the nation to survive each generation’s turmoil, young Americans must be taught about their unique form of government, how to engage it, and how to preserve its limits and usefulness in their…
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U.S. History of Civics part 2: School reforms for COVID-19 point us to successful ed reformers in American history
The following essay is part 2 in a series that discusses the history of civics education in America. U.S. History of Civics part 1: The Founders’ vision — ‘What species of knowledge can be equally important?’ State education leaders are…
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U.S. History of Civics part 1: The Founders’ vision — ‘What species of knowledge can be equally important?’
The hope of education as a tool to sustain the republic, like so many of the Founders’ aspirations, remains a lofty goal. The aspiration of civic education shared by the Founders creates a measuring stick for public school civics standards…