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Civics

Our Unethical Republic

William E. White | Posted 05.17.2013 | Politics
William E. White

Obedience to the law is not enough. Americans demand legal and ethical behavior from themselves and their fellow citizens.

My Own Educational Exchange Trip: Cuba or the Danube-a?

Randee Mia Berman | Posted 04.18.2013 | Travel
Read More: Strauss, Syria, Treasury Department, Mongolia, Migraine, Kapuziner, Hosanna, Havana, Rapping, Benedictine Sisters, Blood Sausage, Buena Vista Social Club, Coffee, Taxi Cab Drivers, Salsa, Superbowl; Obama Fundraiser, Orlando Hernandez Pedroso, Argentina, Bette Midler, Lucy and Ethel, German, Kardashians, Cabaret, Freud, Cafe Landtmann, Yapping, Stallions, Sean Carter, Lyrics, Dumplings, Blonde, Mr. Sandman, Doner Kebab, Hungarian, Tandoori Chicken, Katy Perry, Cole Porter, I Got Rhythm, 3/4 Time, Cigars, Wild Eagles, Persian Caviar, Schwartzenegger, Cuba, Olives, Black Beans, Vivienne Westwood, Solange, Vanillekipferl, Puppini Sisters, Anniversary, The Danube, El Duque, Desi, Papayas, Sasha , Melange, Cafe Cubano, Civics, Malia, Sisterhood, Hostel, Carmelite Nuns, Sisters, Korea, Celia Cruz, Cuban Cigars, Rosemary Clooney, Fashion, Manna, Nostalgia, Vienna Austria, George Gershwin, Vienna, Spanish, Black Pudding, Vocal Coach, Pastries, Spiritain-Ment, Siestas, Turkish Figs, Euros, Rosie Clooney, Desi Arnaz, Beyonce, Educational Exchange, Hemingway, Dazzling Damsels, Gershwin, Colombia, Tito Puente, Melting Pot, Oriental, Pistachios, Diplomatic Relations, Pesos, Serena, Venus, Vienna Convention, Rihanna, Romantic, Sugar Ramos, Waltz, Bandana, Lipizzaner-Horses, Frijoles Negros, Language Lab, Platanos, Jay Z, Marcella Puppini, Tango, Goulash, Mediterranean, FSK 13 Culture Festival, Blue Danube, Cartagena, Croatian, Slovakian, Stephanushaus, Babalu, Rochusmarket, Wienerschnitzel, Travel News
Randee Mia Berman

When I heard rumors about Jay-Z and Beyonce heading to Cuba, I was feeling pretty confident about my trendy choice to go that way. But then I bagged Cuba, and booked a flight to Vienna, Austria, home of the Lipizzaner stallions and Wienerschnitzel.

Conclusion: Transformational Suggestions for 'New America'

Glen Browder | Posted 03.30.2013 | Politics
Glen Browder

It is clear that our Great Experiment has been functioning -- or malfunctioning -- unacceptably for some time, due in part to the exaggerated, fragmented demands of democratic distemper in a changing America.

The Meme-ification of Civic Engagement

Rachel Tardiff | Posted 03.29.2013 | Politics
Rachel Tardiff

I'm convinced that the outpouring of political activity on social networks -- especially around hot-button social issues like marriage equality -- is a frustrated attempt to engage by a generation of people unsure of how else to make change.

Revolutionary Days

William E. White | Posted 04.23.2013 | Impact
William E. White

"We the People" create the institutions that serve us. It's easy to forget that we -- individual citizens -- are the ones responsible for our children's education.

Confront Them, Mr. President: On Civics, Jobs, the Economy, Climate, Infrastructure, Education

Paul Abrams | Posted 04.13.2013 | Politics
Paul Abrams

The remedy for losing one's proposals is to win a majority for them in the next election, not taking the American people hostage.

What Do We Know About Civic Education? Not Enough

Maria Voles Ferguson | Posted 04.10.2013 | Impact
Maria Voles Ferguson

In an era when U.S. students are often compared with or competing against their international counterparts, it is crucial that they understand their own nation's history and system of government and how that has and will continue to impact the world around them.

Sandy Hook as Teachable Moment

Glen Lineberry | Posted 02.19.2013 | Home
Glen Lineberry

We talked about the Second Amendment this week in my Civics classes. In a normal term we spend very little time on it, as there aren't many interesting legal questions involved - nothing like free speech or The Church of Lakumi Babalu Aye vs. City of Hialeah, that most euphoniously named of Supreme Court cases.

The 'Agonizing Spasms' of Election Day

William E. White | Posted 01.14.2013 | Home
William E. White

Effective citizens are sophisticated consumers of information. They ask hard questions about the issues facing their community, state, and nation. All of these behaviors are learned, not innate.

Subjects or Citizens?

William E. White | Posted 12.30.2012 | Home
William E. White

United States history is the story of a compelling idea that continues to revolutionize the world. Unfortunately, American schools today disregard that history.

National Ignorance

William E. White | Posted 12.09.2012 | Home
William E. White

American ideas are important, an essential element for charting our future. Unfortunately, we may be losing our ability to discern quality debate.

Teach Responsibility -- Teach History

William E. White | Posted 11.26.2012 | Home
William E. White

Where are the lessons of responsible citizenship? Where is the citizens' manual? Civic responsibility is not innate. It must be learned, and so it must be taught.

No One Knows Voting Like Reality Show Judge

Youth Radio -- Youth Media International | Posted 11.25.2012 | Politics
Youth Radio -- Youth Media International

By: Robyn Gee When’s the last time you remember young people tripping over themselves to vote? Adam Shankman, a judge on the hit reality TV sho...

What We Build Together

William E. White | Posted 10.31.2012 | Home
William E. White

There is a lot of talk today implying that the purpose of education is job training. Our nation will not survive if our education system merely produces economic units. We must safeguard the future of the republic by educating to increase the most essential national resource: informed, engaged citizens.

The Will of the People

William E. White | Posted 10.14.2012 | Home
William E. White

Partisanship and rancor are not new. We have not fallen from some republican ideal into a new style of debauchery. Our political battles have been hard-fought and hard-won right from the very beginning.

It's Our Responsibility

William E. White | Posted 09.30.2012 | Home
William E. White

Who's responsible for instilling in our young people an appreciation for history and citizenship? Many of us -- teachers, educators, and members of the public alike -- are very concerned about the demise of social studies.

Why I Volunteer, Even Though I Can't Vote

Youth Radio -- Youth Media International | Posted 09.24.2012 | Home
Youth Radio -- Youth Media International

By Meredith Wade I rolled out of bed at the ungodly hour of 8 a.m. on the first Sunday of summer to thrust clipboards at random strangers downtown, ho...

Young People Seek Political Discourse Online

Youth Radio -- Youth Media International | Posted 09.11.2012 | Politics
Youth Radio -- Youth Media International

By: Maya Cueva Youth might not be going to the polls in vast numbers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care about making change in their ...

Teacher Bashing

William E. White | Posted 09.02.2012 | Home
William E. White

I am fed up with teacher-bashing. It seems everyone is willing to belittle teachers. But these same critics are not willing to step forward and do the job themselves.

Rededicate Yourself to the Republic

William E. White | Posted 08.19.2012 | Politics
William E. White

As you, your children, your family, your friends, and your colleagues prepare for the Fourth of July this year, make it a learning experience. Read the Declaration of Independence from beginning to end -- every word. Read it aloud. Read a book about American history.

In Government Class On Election Day

Youth Radio -- Youth Media International | Posted 08.05.2012 | Home
Youth Radio -- Youth Media International

The connection between having at least a high school education and getting out to the polls is something that civics and government teachers think about every day. How do you encourage students to see politics as relevant?

Becoming Aware of Civic Unawareness

Bob Kerrey | Posted 07.26.2012 | Home
Bob Kerrey

Civic education is vital in preparing students for the responsibilities and obligations of democratic citizenship. But a third of native-born American citizens fail the history and civics exam administered to immigrants who are seeking U.S. citizenship.

The U.S. Constitution: What If You Could Explain the Crafting of This Document in Less Than an Hour?

Kate Kelly | Posted 04.28.2012 | Home
Kate Kelly

The United States Constitution is one of the most influential political documents of all time, and it is the cornerstone that supports our liberty. ...

Law and Civic Education

Michael Serota | Posted 04.18.2012 | Home
Michael Serota

We ought to be teaching our nation's students about law, rights, and the operation of our system of justice. A future generation of law-abiding, rights-respecting citizens depends upon it.

Digital Kids and the Kahn Academy

John M. Eger | Posted 12.24.2011 | Home
John M. Eger

Kids have "grown up digital" as author Don Tapscott would say. They have computers, and cell phones and video games, Facebook, and Twitter and who kno...