I would like to reach the Spy readers to suggest that Maryland legislate a requirement for civic education, that it be integrated into the social studies curriculum from second grade through 10th grade, and that a certificate of completion at the 10th-grade level be required for both eligibility to get a driver’s license and to drop out of high school, thereby ensuring that no voter can be easily distracted by political rhetoric and other manipulations we have seen in recent years.
We need all our citizens to be fully aware of the contents of the Constitution and the organization of the American government. Our history has long been a beacon of democracy, and if we don’t get back to making sure our children know why it has been so, the greatest experiment in democratic government in the history of the planet will fail.
The Eastern Shore counties could legislate this idea and spread it to the state and the country.
Margot Miller, PhD
Easton
Easton
Margaret Barton Driggs says
Margot: Excellent idea(s). Keep pursuing it. Peggy Driggs
Clara Kelly says
Yes. Excellent ideas. If those who wish to become US citizens have to pass English and civics tests, it makes perfect sense to begin educating our children at an early age.
John Dean says
This is a good idea. I’m not sure how requiring it to get a driver’s license or to drop out of high school would work, but I get the idea—create an incentive for students to get civics education. I fully agree on the importance of a sound civics education. I would hope that the requirement could be implemented without attempts by anyone—the right or left—to use civic education to further their agenda or ideology.
Rev Julie Hart says
Dear Margot,
AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!
…and maybe we wouldn’t be in the hot mess we are in today.
Peace,
Rev Julie Hart
Francine DeSanctis says
Thank you for explaining the need to have Civics returned to school curriculum.
I had the privilege to tutor an immigrant studying to pass the Citizenship test. Reading and re-reading the study guide renewed my knowledge of why our government works, flaws and all
Carol Bilek says
I agree that civics needs to be taught in schools, and I would continue it right through the 12th grade. High school graduates need to be well informed before they become eligible to vote. I would also recommend that American History be taught throughout every child’s schooling. Our American history and the civics that are an essential part of that history must be instilled in young American citizens from the very beginning of their education.
Lucy Miziolek says
I couldn’t agree with you more! Thank you Margot Miller!!
Tom Vail says
Amen! More than a great idea!
Robert Vitale says
One person’s civic education curriculum can be another person’s indoctrination – it’s a tricky area to navigate, even with a person’s best intentions as their north star. Maybe somewhere along the way we can’t fully outsource it, and as adults we just have to shoulder the burden of setting the example in front of kids – your own, and others’, and even if you don’t have any – of what it means to be an American in America. Trusting there’s a core group out there who still recalls it.
Reed Fawell 3 says
“One person’s civic education curriculum can be another person’s indoctrination.” This is central problem. Robert knows what he is talking about. As to solutions, developing the processes, traditions, customs, and values, free speech, open inquiry, mutual respect, self restraint, and postponing gratification of self for others, (the virtues) is key but very difficult to achieve and thereafter maintain. Right now, we are in process of destroying the virtues as fast as we can.
Michele Johnson says
Agreed! I suggest you look into membership in the Maryland Civic Education Coalition and attend their virtual monthly meetings. You can learn more at MDCivics.org .
Michael Davis says
I heard a podcast last week where a caller asked the question if Kamala Harris would be allowed to certify her own election as that would be a conflict of interest.
The question was based on the falsehood that a VP certifies a presidential election. Trump wanted his VP hung for not refusing to certify Biden’s election in 2020. A big deal was made of the fact that JD Vance would be loyal to Trump and never certify a Democrat winning a presidential election.
Fortunately, VP Pence was not murdered, although lots of Trump followers were trying to hang him. Doubtlessly, he still faces death threats today.
The joke is that a VP does not certify a presidential election, period. VP Pence, and VP Harris, and VP Vance, and VP Harry Truman, none of them, not one, has the authority to certify or block certification of a presidential election. What they do is ceremonial only. Any money spent on educating Americans about their own government is worth it if it prevents the killing of a VP on Trump’s orders.
Barbara Denton says
I agree with Margot. Mr. Davis as per usual uses the occasion to denigrate President Trump. No one tried to hang VP Pence. The only person murdered at the Capitol that day was an unarmed Ashley Babbit by a trigger happy Capital policeman.
Donald Martin says
Here Here!!!
Mary Hunt-Miller says
Margot,
I totally agree with you about this! Thanks for writing your letter.
Mary
Mickey Terrone says
Dr. Miller: excellent proposal, but only if adults are included in the process.
Standard “Civics” courses cover straight facts, the US Constitution, our national foundational documents and differentiations among federal, state and local levels of government.
If “curriculum like the Constitution and other foundational documents are twisted to be interpreted as “indoctrination”, then some Americans’ agendas require unconstitutional or extraconstitutional goals or objectives. Having to defend unconstitutional acts by elected officials, sworn to uphold the Constitution, can well expose hypocrisy and/or criminal activity.
It also can become clear to school age children when they come home and hear “twisted civics” from their parents. Maybe the Demoocrats should focus on the basics of civics, like the need for free elections, the catastrophe of a dictatorship and the attack on the Constitution and the US Capitol. We elect presidents, senators and congresspersons to uphold the Constitution, not to undermine or overthhrow it to gain or retain illegitimate power.
Barbara Denton says
What are you talking about? Teaching children civics and their duties under the constitution was standard in school. You are taught it is your civic duty to vote. Civics teaches our children how our government functions and what their duties are as citizens.
Just exactly what is twisted civics?
Mickey Terrone says
“Twisted civics” is the willful attempt to defraud Americans of their rights and responsibilities in a democratic society. Twisted civics is also the willful attempt to distort and mislead Americans about their rights and responsibilities in a democratic society.
Dr. Miller encourages a serious focus on learning or re-learning the details because too many American voters have forgotten what makes our country great. For example, some Americans seem to believe a presidential candidate has the right to create a mob to overthrow an election merely because he claims it was rigged. Others think a candidate can, without any evidence, strategize to disallow the votes of hundreds of thousands (or millions) because he lost. If he wins, no problem. If he loses, he can just claim he won and initiate an effective coup to allow his majority of delegates in key states, to appoint the electors. We also have some deluded Americans who believe the man they elect as president can assume dictatorial powers – even for a day.
Its time for remedial education in civics since so many Americans have forgotten what they learned in school. For children who may have learned their lessons in school but went home and were corrupted by their deluded parents, they need to re-focus. For adults whose education in civics has been twisted by demagoguery and propaganda, they need remedial lessons in civics, lest they become tools of the demagogue, lest they become accessories to the political crime(s) against American democracy.
Mrs. Denton, whatever standard civics education has been taught has failed millions of deluded Americans who have been distracted by demagoguery and propaganda. Dr. Miller is correct. Civics needs to be reemphasized to where students should have to pass competency tests in how their government works and the responsibilities of citizens to make it work. American citizens must not allow our liberties and to be swept away by a fanatical 78-year old bigot who feeds off the fears and biases of so many.
It seems to me you need to be reminded that the job of a US president is to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution. The man you support for president is determined to put himself above our Constitution and undermine it. Somehow, you lost sight of what you were taught in civics.
Reed Fawell 3 says
A non sensical word salad of platitudes.