CURMUDGUCATION: Chris Evans (And Partners) Create A Useful Civics Tool

CURMUDGUCATION: Chris Evans (And Partners) Create A Useful Civics Tool

Chris Evans (And Partners) Create A Useful Civics Tool

So this is how you do it.

Chris Evans has entered the world of celebrity education support, and he's done it up right. There's a companion post to this one over at Forbes that explains in a little more detail what the site does; in this post, I want to explain why I think Evans and his partners are setting an example for how the rich and famous can have a positive impact on education.

First of all, he hasn't done it alone. He has partnered up with actor/producer Mark Kassen, one of those guys who has a long, solid, steady career in the biz without becoming a household name, and Joe Kiani, who--well, Kiani is an Iranian-American tech entrepreneur who started one of those companies that does a medical thing you don't understand, but who also has been hugely active in trying to reform the world of health care. These three started up a civic engagement site called A Starting Point, and then teamed that up with Close Up, a DC-based civics education group, to create ASP Homeroom, a site where you can find short, simple videos in which elected officials (mostly Congresspersons) lay out their position on major issues.

ASP Homeroom is a civic engagement tool that is well-suited to use by classroom teachers. It works for several reasons, not the least of which Evans and Kassen don't imagine themselves as having all the secrets of teaching civics to high schoolers. I spoke to Kassen, who said "We could not be so CONTINUE READING: CURMUDGUCATION: Chris Evans (And Partners) Create A Useful Civics Tool

Civics knowledge among American adults jumps in new survey -- but hold your applause - The Washington Post

Civics knowledge among American adults jumps in new survey -- but hold your applause - The Washington Post

Civics knowledge among American adults jumps in new survey — but hold your applause

A new survey on U.S. civics knowledge shows a marked jump in the number of American adults who answered questions properly about their constitutional rights and the basic structure of the federal government.

But even with the increase, almost half still can’t name the three branches of the government (executive, legislative and judicial), according to the 2020 Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey. In addition:

• Only 51 percent of respondents correctly said the Supreme Court has the final responsibility for deciding whether an action taken by the president is constitutional, lower than the 61 percent in 2019.
• And when asked what a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling means, only 54 percent correctly knew that the decision is the law and needs to be followed — a drop from 59 percent in 2019.

The survey, taken annually by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, found significant jumps in civics understanding on specific issues, and Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the center, said that could be a result of events during the Trump administration.

“Divided government, the impeachment process, and the number of times political leaders have turned to the courts probably deserve credit for increasing awareness of the three branches, while controversies over the right to peaceably assemble, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech may have done the same for the First Amendment,” she said in a statement.

Asked to name individual rights guaranteed to Americans under the First Amendment:

• 73 percent correctly named freedom of speech, up from 48 percent in 2017
• 47 percent named freedom of religion, up from 15 percent in 2017
• 42 percent named freedom of the press, up from 14 percent in 2017
• 34 percent named the right of assembly, up from 10 percent in 2017
• 14 percent named the right to petition the government, up from 3 percent in 2017
• The percentage of Americans who could not name any First Amendment rights fell from 37 in 2017 to 19 percent in 2020.

Fifty-one percent named all three branches of the federal government, up from CONTINUE READING: Civics knowledge among American adults jumps in new survey -- but hold your applause - The Washington Post

We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020 | Live Long and Prosper

 We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020 | Live Long and Prosper 

We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020

CONSTITUTION DAY CIVICS SURVEY

A few days ago, the Annenberg Public Policy Center released its annual Constitution Day Civics Survey. The results of the survey suggest that the recent upheavals in the United States…racial protests, a pandemic-based health crisis, and increased political polarization…have provided Americans with the excuse to learn more about our form of government.

The survey found that Americans now know more about how our government works than in the last couple of years.

Asked to name any of the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution:

• 73% of Americans named freedom of speech, up from 48% in 2017;

• 47% named freedom of religion, up from 15% in 2017;

• 42% named freedom of the press, up from 14% in 2017;

• 34% named right of assembly, up from 10%;

• 14% named the right to petition the government, up from 3%;

• Those who could not name any First Amendment right fell to 19% from 37% in 2017 (total of “can’t name any” and “don’t know”).

It seems obvious that daily newscasts and political pronouncements have helped to educate Americans on the freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. The CONTINUE READING:  We Must All Be Civics Teachers – Constitution Day, 2020 | Live Long and Prosper 

New Seal of Civic Engagement - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

New Seal of Civic Engagement - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)

California State Board of Education Approves State Seal of Civic Engagement Award

Honor is hoped to encourage students to become active participants in democracy

SACRAMENTO—The California State Board of Education today approved criteria for California students to earn a new Seal of Civic Engagement, an incentive aimed at encouraging active and ongoing citizenship.

To earn the seal, students must demonstrate excellence in civic learning, participation in civics-related projects, contributions to their community, and an understanding of the United States Constitution, the California Constitution, and the American democratic system. Students may earn the seal on a transcript, diploma, or Certificate of Completion. California history and social science teachers worked in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) to develop the initial requirements.

“The future of our democracy depends on a knowledgeable and actively engaged citizenry,” said State Board President Linda Darling-Hammond. “With this new seal, we hope to prepare all students with an empathetic concern for others, a deep understanding of democracy, and the civic engagement skills needed to contribute to the welfare of their local communities, the state, and the country.”

“We know that when young people activate their voices, they can be among the strongest change agents in our communities,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. “Education is the cornerstone of realizing our democratic ideals, and this new seal puts additional tools in students’ hands as they work to shape the future.”

Since then-Governor Brown signed AB 24 into law in October 2017, the CDE has worked with teachers, a variety of stakeholder groups, and the public to draft criteria and guidance for the seal.

Under direction of the State Board, the Department worked to ensure that the criteria approved today are accessible to all students, support rigorous and continuous civic engagement, promote diversity and inclusion, engage young students, reflect an interdisciplinary approach, and recognize civil disobedience as a form of civic engagement.

The criteria are:

1. Be engaged in academic work in a productive way;
2. Demonstrate a competent understanding of U.S. and California constitutions; functions and governance of local governments; tribal government structures and organizations; the role of the citizen in a constitutional democracy; and democratic principles, concepts, and processes;
3. Participate in one or more informed civic engagement project(s) that address real-world problems and require students to identify and inquire into civic needs or problems, consider varied responses, take action, and reflect on efforts;
4. Demonstrate civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions through self-reflection; and
5. Exhibit character traits that reflect civic-mindedness and a commitment to positively impact the classroom, school, community, and/or society.

The criteria include extensive guidance to support local educational agencies as they implement the seal in their communities. The CDE also created a Resources to Support Civic Engagement web page.

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100

New Seal of Civic Engagement - Year 2020 (CA Dept of Education)