Promoting Civic Education: Building Active Citizens

Civic education plays a vital role in shaping the future of our society. It equips young individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become active and engaged citizens. By promoting civic education, we can build a generation of active citizens who are aware of their rights and responsibilities and are committed to making a positive impact on their communities.

This has always been an important element in the total education of a student. But it has been ignored for many generations now, and each generation is showing worse results in civics-related polls.

In fact, a recent study by the University of Pennsylvania shows some appalling results.

Many U.S. adults don’t know the rights protected under the First Amendment — and the only one with wide recognition is freedom of speech, which 77% knew. The other rights were known by under half of respondents: freedom of religion was known by 40% and freedom of the press by 28%. And while 66% could name all three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial), 17% could not name any.

For more information: https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/political-communication/civics-knowledge-survey/

The results of a NAEP (National Assessment for Educational Progress) showed even more frightening results. They have been testing students in civics knowledge since 1998 and in 2014 the proficiency reached an all-time high of 22%, last I heard it was currently around 13%.

For more: https://www.educationnext.org/will-dismal-new-national-test-results-civics-history-finally-spark-improvements-naep/

Without proper civics knowledge our country is doomed to extinction. If our elected officials (they generally fair worse than the public in these polls) and those who elect them don’t know the proper role of the branches of government, individuals rights and the limitations of the federal government then we shall have to continue bearing the tyranny we are currently experiencing and hope that it won’t get worse; which we all know it will but many don’t want to admit that fact.

Or as John Jay, first Supreme Court justice put it - “Every member of the State ought diligently to read and study the Constitution and teach the rising generation [in order] to be free. By knowing their rights, they will sooner perceive when they are violated and be better prepared to defend and assert them.”

Thank God for national organizations such as Patriot Academy who teach the Constitution from it’s intended foundations, not based on what the collective civic ignorance of society has allowed it to become. And thank God for the local ‘Constitution Coaches’ in the Educational Sentinels who offer these entertaining videos to educate young and old alike about their Constitution and their civic duties.

We offer these classes both online and in-person, from individuals to large groups. The Educational Sentinels are even attempting to teach our state elected officials, proving that education is for everyone and not just elementary school and high school students. If you are interested, don’t hesitate to contact us at educationalsentinels@proton.me .

Following are some thoughts, and tips on how we can promote civic education and build active citizens besides teaching them the Constitution as described above:

1. Incorporate civic education into the curriculum: Schools should prioritize civic education by including it as a core subject in the curriculum. But 90% of public schools, in violation of federal law, do not even teach the Constitution on Constitution Day or during the week in which it falls. The Educational Sentinels is trying to combat this failure by presenting an abbreviated course on the Constitution, either during school hours or, with the assistance of the community, at some location after school or on the weekend.

2. Encourage student participation: Actively involving students in the democratic process is crucial for building active citizens. Schools can, but probably won’t, organize mock elections, debates, and student councils to provide students with hands-on experience in decision-making and leadership. By giving students a voice and allowing them to participate in the decision-making process, we empower them to become active contributors to their communities.

3. Engage with the local community: Building active citizens goes beyond the classroom. The Educational Sentinels encourages students to engage with their local community by participating in community service projects, attending town hall meetings, and volunteering for local organizations. By connecting students with real-world issues and giving them opportunities to make a difference, we foster a sense of civic responsibility and encourage them to become active members of society.

4. Foster critical thinking and media literacy: In today's digital age, it is essential to teach students how to critically analyze information and navigate the media landscape. By incorporating media literacy into civic education, we can equip students with the skills to identify bias, evaluate sources, and make informed decisions. This empowers them to be active participants in the democratic process and helps them distinguish between reliable information and misinformation. Since the proficiency scores and other data show that schools have no interest in this, the Educational Sentinels has its work cut out for them in this area.

5. Encourage open dialogue and respectful debate: Active citizenship requires the ability to engage in open dialogue and respectful debate. Again, public schools (or rather those who control public schools) do not want this to happen. By teaching students how to communicate effectively and respectfully, we foster a culture of active citizenship where diverse perspectives are valued and considered.

Promoting civic education is essential for building active citizens who are knowledgeable, engaged, and committed to making a positive impact on society. By incorporating civic education into the curriculum, encouraging student participation, engaging with the local community, fostering critical thinking and media literacy, and encouraging open dialogue, we can empower the next generation to become active and engaged members of our democratic society. Together, let's shape a future where active citizenship is the norm and where every individual understands their role in building a strong and vibrant society.

If we don’t know, and exercise, our power and rights, and don’t recognize the limitations of the federal government, then things will continue to get worse in this nation instead of us being a flourishing nation, as we once were… a nation that other nations looked to and called us exceptional.