11-18-09: Is Our Children Voting? Civic Literacy in Maryland
November 17, 2009 at 10:09 pm 4 comments
Listen to the full segment here.
When we talked to biographer David McCullough in April, he said he was disturbed at how little Americans know about how their democracy works. If nothing changes, he says, we’re headed “for the sewer.” Retired Supreme Court Justice David Souter has put much of his time into improving civics education since leaving the bench.
Today, we visit an AP Government classroom at Randallstown High School, and then we talk to Jim Gimpel, a University of Maryland government professor who has researched civic literacy in Maryland.
On Friday at Randallstown High School in Baltimore County, students will participate in a simulated Congressional hearing as part of the “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” competition. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) will be one of the judges. Call Donna Olszewski (410.767.0317) or Gerry Oehler (410.887.0748) for more information.
Extra link: “Area Man Passionate Defender Of What He Imagines Constitution To Be,” from The Onion
Entry filed under: On Air, Politics. Tags: civic education, civic literacy, Education, research, Sheilah Kast, voting.
Maryland Morning with Sheilah Kast 
1.
Rory Ty Sponsler | December 19, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Civic Literacy ??? How about just some basic literacy???
Are you kidding with this: “IS our children voting?”
2.
mdmorn | December 20, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Yes.
3.
Ben | January 20, 2010 at 10:30 am
Ask these two questions to determine civil literacy and its failing. How many people can name the five rights protected by the First Amendment? How many people can name the five Simpsons characters?
4.
C.A. | February 24, 2010 at 1:23 pm
It would be extremely helpful if more individual people took an active role in teaching their children (as well as themselves) about their American heritage.