Page 6 - EdViewptsSpring2017

Where Do We Go From Here?

Civics Education After 2016

By: Sean Conlon, K-12 Supervisor of Social Studies, Cresskill School District

In the weeks and months of a free press, or a seemingly ever- especially when taught using instruc-
following the night of present racial divide have taken its tional methods that emphasize content
place. To truly confront this multitude
acquisition over experiential learning,
November 8, 2016, Americans of issues will require an open and turn students off from caring about
throughout the country struggled to honest national dialogue and having civics. They come to see civics as the
make sense of a coarse and atypi- that dialogue will require us, as educa- memorization of laws and Supreme
cal election and its meaning for our tors, to reflect on our role in getting to Court cases and, predictably, as a
country’s future. Educators have this point. If we’re doing that honestly, subject utterly detached from their lives.
been no exception. The reality of the then we’d find that how we teach, and Some might make the case that know-
2016 election cycle did not match the in particular how we approach civic ing this information is necessary for
lofty vision of engaged civic dis- education, has contributed to our cur- developing the skills to be an informed,
course around issues that we teach rent situation. voting citizen. Again, they would not
our students are inherent in American Far too often when we say we’re be wrong — it is a necessary com-
presidential elections. Not wanting or teaching civics, we are in fact teaching ponent of civic education. However,
knowing how to talk about the issues the American system of government. expecting the majority of children and
and questions the election raised was And while a robust understanding of teenagers craving instant gratification
a common feeling among educators the interdependence of the executive, to dive headfirst into a subject they
in classrooms at every level. This legislative, and judicial branches of feel detached from for a reward years
consternation has faded since the government is a necessary component down the road is naïve and does real
election, but new anxieties about how of civic education, it cannot be its end harm to helping students see civics as
to deal with “fake news,” the rights goal. Civics classes framed this way, meaningful to their current lives. We

Educational Viewpoints -4- Spring 2017