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New research and policy reports on civic education have sounded an alarm that students in America¿s high schools are not gaining enough knowledge in their social studies classes. Recent studies blame the decline in student comprehension of historical events, facts, and figures on ineffective knowledge-based classroom instruction and a lack of civic education accountability standards. In American public high schools, the high-stakes, accountability system of testing has led to a reinforcement of more traditional, didactic approach to civic education that prioritizes disconnects factual knowledge. However, disconnected knowledge of facts itself is not enough to practice democratic principles in the society. Students learn through active engagement, thereby postulating the need for civic education classes to focus on praxis-based models of experiential learning.



Schools are important venues for civic education because they have the capacity to develop civic skills in students, they have a mandate to reach every student, and they are best equipped to address the cognitive aspects of citizenship (CIRCLE, 2003). Further, schools can use the current trends of student engagement in their communities to build partnerships outside the school for further interaction and teamwork (CIRCLE). By using the praxis-based model of learning, high school students will not only be grounded in the knowledge of history, politics, and economics (to perhaps ¿pass a test¿), but they will also build social capital. The goals of the praxis-based model are to promote concepts of active, experiential learning and connections between the classroom and the community. The responsibility of the teachers under this model is to build strong relationships with students, to instill an impetus for further discovery, to challenge preexisting notions, and to expand students¿ scope of knowledge. This approach not only helps students build cognitive skills but also instills civic disposition for the future. Thus, as we think about adding civics state standards, we need to consider our definition of what civic education is, what pedagogical practices most align with our intentions, and how will the civic education principles be applied by our students when they exist the K-12 system.

Thanks for highlighting the new CIRCLE report on the civic achievement gap. Over the past several years, this issue has become increasingly important to the work of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. One of our Steering Committee members, Meira Levinson, has contributed to our conversations and CIRCLE's as well in her working paper. This is an especially important time to focus on this issue, as Peter Levine notes. When youth participation is up sharply in the early going of the primary season, if that increase is comprised largely of college students, it will exacerbate an already significant gap in socio-economic disparities in civic engagement and democratic participation. At the Campaign, we will be doing our best to identify schools that focus on using civic engagement as a tool for improved academic outcomes, increased graduation rates, and increased college attendance. As the political landscape changes in the year ahead, with youth playing a more significant role, the time is right to both applaud the trend, cast a brighter light on who's actually participating, and remind the American public that effective democratic participation happens best when young people are prepared through their educational experiences for that role.

Patrick Phillips
Executive Director
Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

Hi, Philip--

It's good to hear from you! I remember our email exchange ages ago.  Thanks for taking Academic Atrophy and improving it.   I look forward to hearing the results of your extended survey.

Hi Claus!

You don't know it, but you helped me write my dissertation...Academic Atrophy....I also used your instrument to survey 1200 k-8 teachers in my hometown. We're finishing our paper now. I just wanted to say thank you and to let you know that we'll spread the word about your site.

Best,

philip