Civic Mission of Schools Needs to Be Revitalized, Says State Boards of Education Association
Posted on: Friday, 10 November 2006, 12:00 CST
American democracy is at risk because civic education has been downplayed amid a decade's-long push for more testing and accountability in reading, math, and science, according to a new study released by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE).
Schools need to re-emphasize citizenship as a fundamental mission of public education, the study concludes, and state boards of education must promote civic learning to prepare students for their responsibilities as engaged citizens. The resulting report of the year-long analysis, Citizens for the 21st Century: Revitalizing the Civic Mission of Schools, is being released at NASBE's national conference.
"Our representative democracy can only be sustained by an informed and engaged citizenry. Civic education is a basic purpose of public schooling. As such, we must again infuse this core value into every part of the school curriculum. We need to teach students to be the ethical, responsible, active, and informed citizens this country expects--and demands--of them," said Brenda Welburn, NASBE Executive Director.
The lack of civic instruction among students has resulted in lackluster levels of awareness about the basic functions of domestic government and a dangerous ignorance about international affairs that could have profound implications for the nation in today's global society, concludes the report.
"Promoting civic engagement in our schools and among our students is fundamental to preserving our traditional American values of self-government and our leadership among nations. It is that personal connection to an individual's community that creates, nourishes, and renews the soul of civil society," said James Carignan, chairman of the report committee and chairman of the Maine State Board of Education.
The report recommends that state boards of education transform the culture of schools and re-emphasize civic education in the standards-based reform movement. The topics of government, history, law, and democracy need to be incorporated into a state's core academic standards. Schools should be encouraged to offer students service-learning opportunities and other experiential learning activities. State boards of education are also urged to align pre- and in-service requirements for teachers with the goals of civic learning.
The executive summary is accessible on NASBE's website, www.nasbe.org, and the full report is available for $14 by calling 800-220-5183 or by ordering online.
NASBE represents America's state and territorial boards of education. Our principal objectives are to strengthen state leadership in education policymaking; advocate quality of access to educational opportunity; promote excellence in the education of all students; and assure responsible lay governance of education.
Source: Business Wire
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