democracyjournal.org/magazine/…

#Educating for #Democracy: The Case for a New #Civics
By Danielle S. Allen Carah Ong Whaley

..."This situation urgently calls for excellent civic education to foster informed and engaged citizens prepared to uphold democratic values and processes​​. A decades-long reduction in civic education investment, however, has led to significantly less funding for civics compared to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. The U.S. government allocates over 100 times more funding to STEM programs in public schools—about $54 per student annually—than to civic education programs, which receive less than 50 cents per student each year. This underinvestment has contributed to a decline in civic knowledge and engagement among Americans, particularly among young people. And it is partly to blame, too, for young Americans’ disillusionment with democracy and alarming levels of interest in illiberal forms of governance.

Reimagining and reinvesting in civic education can help reverse these trends by preparing individuals to participate responsibly and effectively in democratic processes and institutions. High-quality civic learning fosters reflective patriotism, understanding of democratic principles, and engagement in civic activities. The result will be a more informed, active, and resilient citizenry capable of sustaining democratic institutions and values. Congress has a crucial role to play in addressing this need by prioritizing and funding civic education initiatives that can counteract the negative trends and strengthen the foundation of American democracy​.
The Civics Secures Democracy Act has garnered broad bipartisan support, with more than two dozen co-sponsors from both major political parties, and is endorsed by nearly 200 organizations with diverse viewpoints. This bipartisan backing reflects recognition across the political spectrum of the importance of civic education and has forged a shared understanding that civic education is not a partisan issue but a national priority essential for the future of American democracy.
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Experiential learning, which involves students directly in their own learning processes, is also an important part of an excellent civic education. Such programs nurture collaboration, discovery, and service to the community, and help learners develop a deeper understanding of policy and decision-making processes. Furthermore, through experiential learning, students can apply their content knowledge and analytical skills to problems confronting their own communities. Examples range from the Girl Scouts and Junior ROTC to Chicago’s Mikva Challenge, which gives young people the opportunity to participate in real-life democratic activities. Simulating or participating in real-world civic activities helps young people not only develop skills that are critical for a functioning democracy, but also build self-confidence and social capital, improve conflict resolution skills, and develop a sense of social belonging.
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Cross-partisan approaches, such as the Educating for American Democracy initiative, also help ensure that civic education receives the funding and resources it needs to be effectively implemented across the country. Furthermore, cross-partisan efforts can help counteract the politicization of and contestation over civics curricula that we are currently seeing in some states, including Florida and Texas. By forging coalitions that are diverse in identity and viewpoint, we can foster a more inclusive and comprehensive approach to teaching civics. This helps to build consensus around the importance of civic education for a healthy democracy and encourages collaboration among educators, policymakers, and community organizations."...