When and Why Did America Stop Teaching Civics?
The research is clear: study after study shows that we Americans don't know civics. This is especially the case for younger Americans, who data reveal to be less informed about civics than their older counterparts. Obviously there is a need for more and better civic education in schools, a proposition that consistently receives strong bipartisan support. Yet American public schools are not as a rule prioritizing civic education. Why is this so?
Findings
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- The time devoted to civic education in American public schools began to significantly decline in the 1960s.
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- Civic education has not for many decades been prioritized by federal or state government; time devoted to civics has also declined due to unintended consequences of other educational focuses (see, e.g., STEM and No Child Left Behind).
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- The time spent in schools on civics declines when civic education itself is seen as controversial.
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- Educators in K-12 schools feel unprepared to teach civics.
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- Younger Americans are less knowledgeable about civics than previous American generations.
In The News
Press Release: Schools Teach Less Civics When Civics Becomes Controversial, Sandra Day O’Connor Institute Reports
Education Week: Real Clear Politics:Â For More Civics in Schools, Dial Down the Controvers
Liam Julian | Director of Public Policy
Liam Julian is director of public policy for the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy. He previously oversaw curriculum development for the College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) program. From 2006 to 2013, he was a research fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution.
For more information about this policy brief, contact him at ljulian@oconnorinstitute.org