The Political Middle--Teaching Good Citizenship

This is not really a new article I published originally it on Gather a few weeks ago and even longer ago on my own website http://www.this-is-my-place.com/  I am republishing to bring attention to what appears to have become a serious challenge to the health of our democracy:  more and more of our citizen seem to lack knowledge of how our government and political system works.   I suspect this may contribute to both the divisivness that threatens our nation and the increasingly lower turnouts at the polls.

 I first became aware of this problem almost three decades ago when when my babysitter, who had just recently attained the age of 18 and was in college came me to both confused and embarrassed because it wasn't until she began considering fulfilling her responsibilities as a citizen and voter that she realized she did not possess even the most basic knowledge needed to make an informed decision.  As a starting point, she wanted to know the difference the offices and duties of the President of the United States,  a United States Senator,  and a Congressman!

Upon questioning why she lacked that knowledge, I discovered that courses such as Civics and U.S. Government, both of which I was required to take to graduate from high school had never even been offered even as an electives.

After she left it occurred to me that the differences in our educational offerings might have been a matter of geographical location, and called a nephew who had attended the same school system as I had. He wasn't sure what civics was, but his parents had insisted that he take the U.S. Government course that had been offered as an elective  to college prep students!  What does that say to students who aren't going on to college? 

Civics for those who are not familiar with that subject, started with an overview the basic forms of government relative to the ultimate source of authority: a democracy , an autocracy, an oligarchy; their sub forms, the differences between them and how they could sometimes overlap. Finally it got down to the structures that may exist within our own nation down to the local level.  In summery it provided the students with a familiarity with the governmental structures they might encounter in this nation, the degree of participation that might be expected of a member of the electorate, and it provided the basic knowledge of other government forms and structures that we  might need to better understand issues, that might affect our decisions as members of the electorate.

In contrast U.S. Government dealt in greater detail with the various branches of governments at the federal level and the array  of  bodies and agencies that existed within each, their hierarchical structures and how they might interact with state and local governments.

These courses combined helped prepare us to become participants in a democracy and fulfill our responsibilities as citizens and members of the electorate.

My baby-sitter was intelligent enough to know she should end her ignorance and was willing to admit that ignorance to the person she felt best equipped to end it. How many other newly eligible voters would be bothered enough to admit their ignorance and try to end it?  How many would not even register to vote or if they bothered registering would not vote?  How many would enter the voting booth without the foggiest idea of what they were really doing?

How can people be expected to become good citizens and vote intelligently when they haven't even been taught the basics about the structure of our government, the levels of government and the different forms that may exist at the local level? I pose this question for anybody who may think the courses I have mentioned are not necessary.  For the rest of us it is rhetorical.

Beyond the three "R's"  the most important thing an educational system in a democracy can teach our children is what democracy is about, and provide them the knowledge they need to become good citizens.   Like the three "R"'s some parents can an will see to it that the child at least learn the essential but we owe it to ourselves, our communities and our nation to insure that children whose parents either can't teach their children about these subjects, or who have parents who don't care, have the opportunity to learn about them so they can become responsible participants in our democracy.

If you also think our schools should be teaching these subjects, contact your local high school to see if they are being taught.  If they aren't being taught contact your school board and demand that they be included in the high school curriculum for all students.  Beyond that I suggest you contact your state level legislators and senators and demand the passing of a state law that requires they be taught in all high schools in the state.