Turning Students Into Citizens

This from Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at Public School Insights:

The evidence is clear-and should be profoundly disturbing: we are failing to impart to today's students the information and skills they need to be responsible citizens. Yet only an educated citizenry can insist that our nation's commitment to liberty be upheld, and the promise of our Constitution fulfilled.

A recent survey by the National Constitution Center demonstrated that more American teenagers could name the Three Stooges than can name the three branches of government.

Such statistics highlight a trend with troubling implications for the future. We must do a better job of educating young people to become active and informed participants in our democracy.

At least a partial answer lies in a paradigm shift in the way that civics is taught in our schools. A thorough civic education creates citizens who have a grasp of history and the fundamental processes of American democracy, an understanding and awareness of public and community issues, and the ability to think critically and enter into dialogue on those issues with others who have different perspectives...