The Dreyfuss Initiative

[GoodWitch58]

Some of you know I am very invested in teaching Civics in our schools and colleges...in most places these days, we do not do this, and IMO this is a serious gap in our education system.

If you have not heard Richard Dreyfuss speak about the state of our country/world and the lack of civics education, and if you are interested in/concerned about the state of the world for us and our children...
I recommend this entertaining, thoughtful, out-of-the-box presentation:
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect...org/audio/podcast/cc_20100719_sv_dreyfuss.mp3

 

[ugabuga]

Some of you know I am very invested in teaching Civics in our schools and colleges...in most places these days, we do not do this, and IMO this is a serious gap in our education system.

If you have not heard Richard Dreyfuss speak about the state of our country/world and the lack of civics education, and if you are interested in/concerned about the state of the world for us and our children...
I recommend this entertaining, thoughtful, out-of-the-box presentation:
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect...org/audio/podcast/cc_20100719_sv_dreyfuss.mp3

Thx to you & anyone else who is trying to teach civics to the younguns. From the posts on a couple of other threads re whether we (the gov't) should "allow" a mosque to be built near Ground Zero, it appears that some posters never were taught civics in school--or maybe they were just absent on the day the 1st Amendment was covered!?!

 

[GoodWitch58]

Thx to you & anyone else who is trying to teach civics to the younguns. From the posts on a couple of other threads re whether we (the gov't) should "allow" a mosque to be built near Ground Zero, it appears that some posters never were taught civics in school--or maybe they were just absent on the day the 1st Amendment was covered!?!

No sure about anyone here--but there are many who have never had a civics class. I am just appalled at how many college students have no idea we have three branches of government; and how many successful adults have no idea how government works, or what advocacy is; and why it's important.

The sad part is that practically all those same people, students and older adults, can tell you everything (TMI) about some rock star or football player!

And, add the fact that there is little civics taught and even less geography, it is no wonder the geo-politics of the world are in such a mess in the minds of our citizens.

 

[30ashopper]

Is it a required course in walton county high schools?

I seem to remember taking civics as a kid, although it might have been through U.S. History, not sure.

 

[Kurt]

It was pretty lame 30 years ago. I can only imagine how bad it is now. I wish every school kid got a chance to visit their state and national capitals.

 

[sarawind]

Growing up we studied civics in high school and it was required. We had geography all through grammar school but not high school. Both are sadly lacking in public schools today. When my son was in ninth grade the public school system dropped geography to have classes in 'sensitivity training'.

How many remember learning to spell geography? George Edwards Oldest Girl Rode A Pig Home Yesterday.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Is it a required course in walton county high schools?

I seem to remember taking civics as a kid, although it might have been through U.S. History, not sure.

As far as I know, not only is it not required, it is not offered. I have not looked at the courses for Walton County for this term. Most Florida schools don't teach it--and from what I am told (I do not have any affiliation with Walton School System) it is not taught for a variety of reasons--one of them is that it is not on the FCAT. Each school district is somewhat different, so it is most likely different in each of the districts. Perhaps someone who has a student in the high school here knows; or someone who is on the school board.

Generally, speaking it seems that it was dropped as a separate course sometime in the late sixties/early seventies. For more information, http://bobgrahamcenter.ufl.edu/civics-education-florida.For specifics on Florida's Civic Health: http://www.floridacitizen.org/include/files/health_civics_09.pdf

 

[Andy A]

While I appreciate the links to our Florida school civics problems, I don't need them to know if classes about our government, its function, its three different branches and what each does are not being taught, then our students are being short changed.
When did we, in this country, stop teaching about what makes our country tick and how to write a check, balance a check book and use a credit card responsibly and, instead, start concentrating on the "feel good" aspects of life?