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From the Center for American Progress: The State of Civics Education
Excerpt:
No modern nation on earth can claim to be a Real Democracy if Civics Education is not a key element of secondary-schooling. People must know not only the political history of the US, but also how politics runs the country today. I suspect personally that most people get a notion of political activity off the BoobTube (TV).
That's just not good enough. The notion of Liberty being the foundation-stone of our nation is fine but neither is it good enough. Americans must be taught also that the Electoral College that MANIPULATES THE POPULAR-VOTE before conveying the results to Congress and Gerrymandering are both manipulations of the popular-vote to favor either side of a basically two-party system!
Both the above election-voting connivances have been in place since 1812 - when the 12th Amendment instituted the Electoral College and a Massachusetts governor (Gerry) carved out voting districts to assure that his party would win them.
What are a people to do when their democracy has been infected by such complicities?
Simply not put up with them!
Excerpt:
Civic knowledge and public engagement is at an all-time low. A 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that only 26 percent of Americans can name all three branches of government, which was a significant decline from previous years.1 Not surprisingly, public trust in government is at only 18 percent and voter participation has reached its lowest point since 1996. Without an understanding of the structure of government; rights and responsibilities; and methods of public engagement, civic literacy and voter apathy will continue to plague American democracy. Educators and schools have a unique opportunity and responsibility to ensure that young people become engaged and knowledgeable citizens.
While the 2016 election brought a renewed interest in engagement among youth,4 only 23 percent of eighth-graders performed at or above the proficient level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) civics exam, and achievement levels have virtually stagnated since 1998. In addition, the increased focus on math and reading in K-12 education—while critical to prepare all students for success—has pushed out civics and other important subjects.
No modern nation on earth can claim to be a Real Democracy if Civics Education is not a key element of secondary-schooling. People must know not only the political history of the US, but also how politics runs the country today. I suspect personally that most people get a notion of political activity off the BoobTube (TV).
That's just not good enough. The notion of Liberty being the foundation-stone of our nation is fine but neither is it good enough. Americans must be taught also that the Electoral College that MANIPULATES THE POPULAR-VOTE before conveying the results to Congress and Gerrymandering are both manipulations of the popular-vote to favor either side of a basically two-party system!
Both the above election-voting connivances have been in place since 1812 - when the 12th Amendment instituted the Electoral College and a Massachusetts governor (Gerry) carved out voting districts to assure that his party would win them.
What are a people to do when their democracy has been infected by such complicities?
Simply not put up with them!