Importance of Civic Learning
"More young Americans can name an American Idol winner and the city where the cartoon The Simpsons live than know the political party of their state’s governor."
--According to a recent survey conducted by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
Today, as in the past, the future rests on the shoulders of young people who as future citizens must protect and develop democratic institutions. It is, threrfore, crucial for the future health of our democracy that young people are knowledgeable, engaged in their communities and in politics, and committed to the public good.
--The Civic Mission of Schools
If you look back in history, you will find the core mission of public education in America was to create places of civic virtue for our children and for our society. As education undergoes the rigors of re-examination and the need for reinvention, it is crucial to remember that the key role of public schools is to preserve democracy and, that as batter as we might be, our mission is central to the future of this country."
--Paul D. Houston
Liberty lies in the hearts of men; when it dies there, no constitution, no law, no court can save it. . .
--Learned Hand, 1944