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demmiblue

(36,751 posts)
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 08:45 AM Dec 2018

Students sue Rhode Island over lack of civics education

Source: CNN

(CNN)Rhode Island is failing to teach civics and prepare students to be "capable citizens," a federal class-action lawsuit alleges.

The 14 students in the suit say the state provided such a substandard education that it violates their rights under the US Constitution.

"The state defendants have failed to provide the named plaintiffs and tens of thousands of other students in the state of Rhode Island an education that is adequate to prepare them to function productively as civic participants," says the complaint filed this week.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/01/us/civics-class-action-lawsuit-rhode-island/index.html



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hlthe2b

(101,730 posts)
1. Well, they've already shown understanding of civics that their school administration/board clearly
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 08:54 AM
Dec 2018

do not. Tremendous, kids!

no_hypocrisy

(45,778 posts)
3. If a student in public school is entitled to being taught to read, to do math calculations,
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 09:00 AM
Dec 2018

American history, and to be provided with physical education, then yes, that student is entitled as well to how American democracy works via civics.

It was fleetingly referenced in seventh grade history, but I did receive something.

FakeNoose

(32,356 posts)
5. Awesome news - I hope it goes national
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 09:48 AM
Dec 2018

This failure has been happening since the Reagan years. So most of today's teachers were educated with little or no civics classes. It's time to redesign our entire educational system and we should start by firing Betsy DeVos!

malthaussen

(17,066 posts)
12. Oh, before Reagan.
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 11:25 AM
Dec 2018

I'm sure it's another thing that varies by school district, but when I was in public HS in the early 70s, there were no civics courses. Mind you, this was in Pennsylvania, which has some very idiosyncratic rules about curriculum.

OTOH, in 1st grade I was taught to vote, so you go figger.

-- Mal

noneof_theabove

(410 posts)
6. Controlling a populaton
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 10:14 AM
Dec 2018
You can not control a population* that is:

1) Well Educated — they will call your bluff, vote you out, etc

2) Well Funded — takes resources to educated, resist, fight, vote you out, etc

3) Well Fed — can’t fight, get funds, get educated, make a clear decision to vote you out, etc

4) Healthy — if your sick in bed you can’t resist, fight, or go vote you out, etc

Remove any 1 of the 4 and you control that population

* can by any number such as a civic organization, class room, city, county, state

McCamy Taylor

(19,240 posts)
7. "Social studies" in public schools are often taught by coaches. I believe this is deliberate.
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 10:20 AM
Dec 2018

Because an informed electorate will vote for its own financial self interest.

This have been one of my pet peeves for years and I am glad that someone is addressing it.

SnowCritter

(808 posts)
8. Just because a teacher is also a coach
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 10:40 AM
Dec 2018

doesn't make them a poor teacher.

Many smaller school districts can't afford to separate the two jobs. Waaaay back when I was in high school all the coaches were also teachers - and all of them were excellent teachers.

 

PeeJ52

(1,588 posts)
9. In my experience in school
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 10:50 AM
Dec 2018

the coaches always seemed like they were the best teachers because they were the ones that had the best rapport withe the kids and earned their respect to make them work hard. My coaches taught me chemistry, civics, and the most respected teacher of all, taught algebra and was the varsity basketball coach.

csziggy

(34,120 posts)
14. Agreed - I had coaches for civics, Freshman English, and for Driver's Ed
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 12:21 PM
Dec 2018

All three men were great teachers, very good at their subjects, and cared deeply about their students. Coaching was something they did on the side while teaching was their main job.

DENVERPOPS

(8,679 posts)
13. Social Studies Class 8th grade
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 12:03 PM
Dec 2018

Wow, 1963, Denver's Hill Jr. High School, Mr. Shidler. One hard ass teacher.
He absolutely POUNDED us on Civics. U.S. AND Colorado Government. We all thought he was some kind of tyrant.
Now I look back and think he was probably one of the top teachers ever. Period.
For a whole frisking year he hammered us in the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence, electoral college, Cabinet positions, writing and passing of bills, Supreme Court, on and on, etc etc.
We had to memorize the bill of rights and know all the amendments by number and what each concerned, memorize the preamble, memorize the first paragraph of the Gettysburg address, etc etc etc. Hell, I can still recite them. At seventy, I can't tell you what I had for dinner last night, but ask me a question about the three branches of gov't, etc, and I can tell you whatever you need to know........
All the kids educated late 60's and later, for some reason don't seem to have received all that teaching/learning.
I'll tell you what, if everyone in America had Shidler for Social Studies/Civics, the U.S. would be a far different place than it is now.
As a kicker, he almost got fired for making us all read and be tested on four books outside our curriculum.
What four books, might you ask? These four: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair, The Ugly American, 1984, and Animal Farm.
Everyone today is talking about 1984 and the GOVERNMENT.....Hell it's 1984 and the CORPORATIONS you fools.
I still have my copies of the books from Jr. High sitting on my office shelf. If everyone sat down today, and just read Animal Farm, with Trump in office, you would either laugh your collective asses off, or be scared to death..........
Enough said, but thank you, thank you, thank you Mr. Shidler............All us students thank you for forcing this down our throats.
I look at what has transpired during the Ronald Reagan days and after, and Shidler must be rolling over in his grave right now.
Oh, and By the way he was a staunch Republican, but never let politics enter our classroom.
Another Side Note, I was in his class the Day JFK was assassinated.............Everyone remembers where they were that day, don't they???????.............

MichMan

(11,790 posts)
15. Not everything you learn comes from formal education
Sat Dec 1, 2018, 12:24 PM
Dec 2018

The students had every opportunity to learn civics outside of the classroom.

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