This is interesting about the civics education you received. I know education is "left to the states", but civics and government seems like it could be beneficial to require for all states. I'm in Minnesota and here, at least in my district, Civics is a year-long course. I took it in 9th grade over 40 years ago and it's been this way eve…
This is interesting about the civics education you received. I know education is "left to the states", but civics and government seems like it could be beneficial to require for all states. I'm in Minnesota and here, at least in my district, Civics is a year-long course. I took it in 9th grade over 40 years ago and it's been this way ever since and probably before me too. I think now they take it in 11th or 12th grade instead. I don't know if it's one of the reasons, but Minnesota does historically have a very engaged electorate with very high voting turnout. I think sometimes we had coaches teaching civics, but here they were social studies teachers first, coaches second.
Also, we are required to take Human Geography of Global Issues and Economics (semester each) in 11/12 grade as well.
I definitely think there's a connection between adequate civics education and political engagement as adults. Absolutely. And I think taking it as a foundation for your later learning of history is key. Saving it for the last thing you learn before you graduate doesn't make sense. That's like learning basic arithmetic after algebra. U.S History makes a lot more sense once you learn how the government works.
That is how it used to be in our district, Civics in 9th grade, American History in 10th, World History in 11th, then the Geography/Economics in 12th. Now they've flipped Civics and World History. Although, many choose AP Government instead of Civics in 11th/12th grade now. Before, they would have to take Civics and then they would choose to take AP Government in 11/12, but usually only the college-bound students take the AP class. I'm not sure if this is a change state-wide or just our district. My kids (twins) are graduating college this year, so I'm a little past the current high school curriculum.
This is interesting about the civics education you received. I know education is "left to the states", but civics and government seems like it could be beneficial to require for all states. I'm in Minnesota and here, at least in my district, Civics is a year-long course. I took it in 9th grade over 40 years ago and it's been this way ever since and probably before me too. I think now they take it in 11th or 12th grade instead. I don't know if it's one of the reasons, but Minnesota does historically have a very engaged electorate with very high voting turnout. I think sometimes we had coaches teaching civics, but here they were social studies teachers first, coaches second.
Also, we are required to take Human Geography of Global Issues and Economics (semester each) in 11/12 grade as well.
I definitely think there's a connection between adequate civics education and political engagement as adults. Absolutely. And I think taking it as a foundation for your later learning of history is key. Saving it for the last thing you learn before you graduate doesn't make sense. That's like learning basic arithmetic after algebra. U.S History makes a lot more sense once you learn how the government works.
That is how it used to be in our district, Civics in 9th grade, American History in 10th, World History in 11th, then the Geography/Economics in 12th. Now they've flipped Civics and World History. Although, many choose AP Government instead of Civics in 11th/12th grade now. Before, they would have to take Civics and then they would choose to take AP Government in 11/12, but usually only the college-bound students take the AP class. I'm not sure if this is a change state-wide or just our district. My kids (twins) are graduating college this year, so I'm a little past the current high school curriculum.