Teaching America: The Case for Civic Education

by David Feith, Evan H. Daar (Contributor), Seth Andrew (Contributor)

In Teaching America, more than 20 leading thinkers sound the alarm over a crisis in citizenship and lay out a powerful agenda for reform. The book s unprecedented roster of authors includes Justice Sandra Day O Connor, Senator Jon Kyl, Senator Bob Graham, Secretary Rod Paige, Alan Dershowitz, Juan Williams, Glenn Reynolds, Michael Kazin, Frederick Hess, Andrew Rotherham, Mike Feinberg, Seth Andrew, Mark Bauerlein and more. Their message: To remain America, our country has to give its kids a civic identity, an understanding of our constitutional system, and some appreciation of the amazing achievements of American self-government. But we are failing. Young Americans know little about the Bill of Rights, the democratic process, or the civil rights movement. Three of every four high school seniors aren t proficient in civics, nine of ten can t cut it in U.S. history, and the problem is only aggravated by universities' disregard for civic education. Such civic illiteracy weakens our common culture, disenfranchises would-be voters, and helps poison our politics.

Genres: Politics, Education

258 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2011

Reviews

[Samantha Carter]

Literally skimmed this in a day, read for an English 101 paper (just for research on a potential argument for the overarching topic-- the flaws of the American school/education system). Probably won't formally review it haha.

However, I will say: this is a FANTASTIC selection if you're looking to read more (from many different viewpoints) about the teaching of civics in the American education system, and criticisms/commentary on it. Very insightful, and really helped me develop my argument.

[Aaron Crofut]

A couple contributors, notably Juan Williams, Mike Feinberg and Bruce Cole, are worth reading closely, but the rest was not overly impressive. Not that it was wrong, but most folks on the streets could already point out the problems highlighted in this book. Better educated teachers, more assessment, more government grants are not going to solve anything. Change has to come at home.

Great quote from Mark Bauerlein: "If the nation is 'dedicated to a proposition,' as Lincoln said- rather than being only a collection of people within set borders- then those who do not know the proposition are lesser citizens than those who do."