Every other week, GC picks out a selection of articles that are relevant to our work and to the civic education space as a whole. We at GC love to expand our learning in every aspect of what we do, and we hope you enjoy our selections!
Why Did We Stop Teaching Political History? The New York Times. Although we encounter stories of our political past on a daily basis, there is a crisis in the field of teaching political history. “What was once a central part of the historical profession, a vital part of this country’s continuing democratic discussion, is disappearing.” Read on to learn why this has happened and what can be done to change our course. August 29, 2016
Civics = Civility, The Ledger. In this piece, Bruce Anderson argues that the lack of civic education and understanding of political and government processes lends to uncivil civic discourse. He states, “Citizens cannot be expected to be civil if they have no knowledge of basic civics.” An excellent argument for supporting the work we are doing here at GC! August 26, 2016
Can political apps send more young people to the polls? BBC News. Apps have become an essential component to daily millennial life, but can civic apps help engage the 31% of millennials who are turning away from politics? This piece outlines a few that are doing just that. However, GC Board Member and Director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, Dr. Kawashima-Ginsberg, states that apps alone won’t make enough of a difference – real, in-person engagement is needed too. August 23, 2016
Civic engagement among youth, communities of color at an all-time low. Vida en el Valle. Legislators and experts gathered in Sacramento to discuss the lack of civiSec engagement and turnout among youth and communities of color in California. What is the cause and how can this problem be addressed? The piece outlines excellently causality and solutions. Read on to learn more. August 17, 2016