“We need to start teaching civics again,” is a common refrain these days. And for good reason. There’s nothing like a pandemic to help us realize the impact of our individual and collective actions as well as our responsibilities to ourselves and our communities.
Recently we made the case that statistical literacy is essential for full participation in society. The same goes for civics—the rights and duties of citizenship—which must be taught both in school and at home.
Though we haven’t come across many civics classes in schools, we’ve seen plenty of instances of it being taught through lessons and activities in all shapes and forms. For instance, each fall at Townsend Harris High School, the entire student body participates in an election simulation, where students study and role-play candidates and members of special interest groups. At MS 50 in Brooklyn, all students learn the art of debate and use it to tackle weighty topics, such as the pros and cons of single-gender education. Some schools participate in programs like The Constitution Works, where children get hands-on exposure to our legal system by studying the Constitution and then conducting a mock appellate case in a federal courthouse.
Parents can embrace a similar activity-driven approach at home.
The Institute for Educational Policy at Johns Hopkins School of Education has published the Civics at Home guide to help parents plan activities to teach their children about good citizenship. Citing research by political scientist David Campbell, the Civics at Home guide lays out the four key elements of civics education or “what makes up an engaged citizen”:
- Political knowledge (understanding how our political system works);
- Civic skills (the capacity to be involved, i.e., interpreting legislation and campaign platforms);
- The habit of civic engagement (community service and political volunteering); and
- Political tolerance (respect for the civil liberties of others).
Civics at Home lists activities organized by age range. It also offers some no-nonsense advice such as teaching your child geography by looking at maps and encouraging memorization of key facts such as states and capitals and the names of countries on different continents.
Take a look at Civics at Home and let us know in the COMMENTS what you are doing at home to help your child understand their role as a good citizen.
"Tunahitaji kuanza kufundisha elimu ya kiraia tena", ni kauli mbiu ya kawaida siku hizi. Na kwa sababu nzuri. Hakuna kitu kama janga kutusaidia kutambua athari za vitendo vyetu vya kibinafsi na vya pamoja na pia majukumu yetu kwetu wenyewe na jamii zetu. Hivi karibuni tulitoa kesi kwamba ujuzi wa takwimu ni muhimu kwa ushiriki kamili katika jamii. Vivyo hivyo inatumika kwa elimu ya kiraia - haki na wajibu wa uraia - ambayo lazima ifundishwe katika shule na nyumbani. Ingawa hatujaona madarasa mengi ya elimu ya kiraia shuleni, tumeona visa vingi vya kufundishwa kupitia masomo na shughuli katika maumbo na aina zote. Kwa mfano, kila vuli katika Shule ya Upili ya Townsend Harris, mwili mzima wa mwanafunzi hushiriki katika simulation ya uchaguzi, ambapo wanafunzi hujifunza na kucheza nafasi ya wagombea na wanachama wa vikundi maalum vya maslahi. Katika shule ya MS50 huko Brooklyn, wanafunzi wote hujifunza sanaa ya mjadala na kuitumia kushughulikia mada nzito, kama vile faida na hasara za elimu ya jinsia moja. Shule za msingi zinashiriki katika programu kama vile The Constitution Works, ambapo watoto hupata maonyesho ya mikono kwa mfumo wetu wa kisheria kwa kusoma Katiba na kisha kufanya kesi ya rufaa ya bandia katika mahakama ya shirikisho. Wazazi wanaweza kutumia mbinu hiyohiyo ya kufanya mambo nyumbani. Taasisi ya Sera ya Elimu ya Johns Hopkins School of Education imetoa mwongozo wa Civics at Home kusaidia wazazi kupanga shughuli za kuwafundisha watoto wao kuhusu uraia mzuri. "Kutokana na utafiti uliofanywa na mwanasayansi wa siasa David Campbell, mwongozo wa ""Civics at Home"" unaelezea mambo manne muhimu ya elimu ya raia au ""ni nini hufanya raia kushiriki"" - maarifa ya kisiasa (kuelewa jinsi mfumo wetu wa kisiasa unavyofanya kazi); ujuzi wa kiraia (uwezo wa kushiriki, yaani, kutafsiri sheria na majukwaa ya kampeni); tabia ya ushiriki wa kiraia (huduma ya jamii na kujitolea kisiasa); na uvumilivu wa kisiasa (uheshimu uhuru wa kiraia wa wengine)." Civics at Home inaorodhesha shughuli zilizopangwa kulingana na umri. Pia, kuna ushauri wa msingi kama vile kumfundisha mtoto wako jiografia kwa kuangalia ramani na kumtia moyo kukumbuka mambo muhimu kama vile majimbo na miji mikuu na majina ya nchi katika mabara tofauti. Angalia Civics at Home na tujulishe katika maoni nini unafanya nyumbani kusaidia mtoto wako kuelewa jukumu lake kama raia mzuri.