I took Gov 1 as a sophomore at Harvard in 1967 and was exposed to civics for the first time in my life. I had attended a good New England prep school and had taken a year of American history but really did not get basic civics education. I found the material really interesting and so important for my general education. I agree entirely with the author but adding requirements to our college students' course work is frowned upon these days.
Great post, Jenna. A solid understanding of how our political/government system works is absolutely fundamental. It might be even more valuable if contrasted with other political systems of all kinds around the world and throughout history.
Why shouldn't one's ability to show a basic understanding of our system be a requirement to vote? You have to show competency do drive a car, fly a plane, scuba dive or apply for most jobs. If it were embedded as a high school class that could meet the requirement, or the government could offer free classes to anyone who did not get it through school. Voting is perhaps a citizen's greatest power, yet there is no requirement for the slightest understanding of our system. Is that too much to ask?
Education needs to begin at primary school level. The culprits are the Teacher's Union and the Dept of Education, which was invaded and poisoned by anti- American ideologies. Some major clean up and supervision of the teachers is overdue. The problem is an old one. There's apathy and lack of criteria in schools and high schools leadership as well. Perhaps parents need to be educated too. Years ago I had to speak up in my son's high school so that an Amnesty International poster saying " you should be ashamed of your country " be removed from a main public space. Not long ago, that same son requested that a Che Guevara "as hero" poster be removed from his own son's high school chemistry lab. I also had to make an issue about removing from the reference library a book written by a partisan Arab - distributed nationwide - where the Jews are blamed for the Holocaust. The book was withdrawn from the reference library. And, finally, I tried to convince the AntiDefamation League to request that anti-Semitic works of literature be removed from the compulsory curriculum, but without success. I might try again.
I got good civics ed in 8th grade. Would like to see it in 6th grade then added to annually. The info starts one thinking. My sis, 8 years younger had none in her schools. Was fascinated that I knew civics.
I agree.. but I think it must be required at High school 10th Grade levels for TAX PAYER FUNDED social services for sexually active teenagers RIGHTS to keep their babies while pregnant despite Parental objections especially when quoting Gandhi and wife married at 13. NO More KING" 1776 meant No Taxation without REPRESENTATION. But with Representation Contribution and Consent- and support by VOTE as with any alliance agreement it is fine. My family has been paying PROPERTY Tax, Income Tax Federal ,Tax and every other tax needed to Keep NH / Massaschuetts ACCREDITNG BOARDS paid for OVERSIGHT of the Health fare Education Wealthcare HEW happy health and wise as in Hewy Dewy Lewy Beep Beep Road Runner Donald and Daisy Duck - Its Cartoon Time in Sesame Street SEATTLE as well as eits quivalent in NORTHEAST AMERICA - of Disney Mardi Gras Mexicalli Rose fssts are good SOUTHERN Florida. New Orleans Los Angeles
I took Gov 1 as a sophomore at Harvard in 1967 and was exposed to civics for the first time in my life. I had attended a good New England prep school and had taken a year of American history but really did not get basic civics education. I found the material really interesting and so important for my general education. I agree entirely with the author but adding requirements to our college students' course work is frowned upon these days.
Great post, Jenna. A solid understanding of how our political/government system works is absolutely fundamental. It might be even more valuable if contrasted with other political systems of all kinds around the world and throughout history.
Why shouldn't one's ability to show a basic understanding of our system be a requirement to vote? You have to show competency do drive a car, fly a plane, scuba dive or apply for most jobs. If it were embedded as a high school class that could meet the requirement, or the government could offer free classes to anyone who did not get it through school. Voting is perhaps a citizen's greatest power, yet there is no requirement for the slightest understanding of our system. Is that too much to ask?
Education needs to begin at primary school level. The culprits are the Teacher's Union and the Dept of Education, which was invaded and poisoned by anti- American ideologies. Some major clean up and supervision of the teachers is overdue. The problem is an old one. There's apathy and lack of criteria in schools and high schools leadership as well. Perhaps parents need to be educated too. Years ago I had to speak up in my son's high school so that an Amnesty International poster saying " you should be ashamed of your country " be removed from a main public space. Not long ago, that same son requested that a Che Guevara "as hero" poster be removed from his own son's high school chemistry lab. I also had to make an issue about removing from the reference library a book written by a partisan Arab - distributed nationwide - where the Jews are blamed for the Holocaust. The book was withdrawn from the reference library. And, finally, I tried to convince the AntiDefamation League to request that anti-Semitic works of literature be removed from the compulsory curriculum, but without success. I might try again.
Parents matter.
TY for your activity. Important!!
Couldn't agree more. The anti-western rhetoric has to be countered somewhere in society and the untruths of such rhetoric exposed.
I got good civics ed in 8th grade. Would like to see it in 6th grade then added to annually. The info starts one thinking. My sis, 8 years younger had none in her schools. Was fascinated that I knew civics.
I agree.. but I think it must be required at High school 10th Grade levels for TAX PAYER FUNDED social services for sexually active teenagers RIGHTS to keep their babies while pregnant despite Parental objections especially when quoting Gandhi and wife married at 13. NO More KING" 1776 meant No Taxation without REPRESENTATION. But with Representation Contribution and Consent- and support by VOTE as with any alliance agreement it is fine. My family has been paying PROPERTY Tax, Income Tax Federal ,Tax and every other tax needed to Keep NH / Massaschuetts ACCREDITNG BOARDS paid for OVERSIGHT of the Health fare Education Wealthcare HEW happy health and wise as in Hewy Dewy Lewy Beep Beep Road Runner Donald and Daisy Duck - Its Cartoon Time in Sesame Street SEATTLE as well as eits quivalent in NORTHEAST AMERICA - of Disney Mardi Gras Mexicalli Rose fssts are good SOUTHERN Florida. New Orleans Los Angeles