The History of Civics
The concept of citizenship comes from ancient Greece & Rome. But in ancient democracies, only adult males who owned property were allowed to vote. And in the founding era of the United States, so it was that only white male property owners were allowed to vote in elections.
Civics in these United States
The Founding Fathers fought over the meaning of what Civics Education should be. And in the 1830’s, Horace Mann led the “Common Schools’ Movement. It meant all students would receive equal education that was ‘in common’ with others should learn regardless of social status or religion.
In the late 1800’s, another influential educator, John Dewey, thought that civics education would help student citizens find a personal interest in learning that would lead to ‘share in the interests of others.’ He also intended to break down barriers of race, class and ethnicity to create a common interest in learning.
Throughout its existence, the history of public education in the United States has shown a back-and-forth lively discussion surrounding what and how and how much teaching should be implemented and thrust upon the American people. There have been numerous standards and debates that continue to this day. “Teaching to the test’ and implementing DEI or Sex Education in schools has often overshadowed all other factors in public education. And there have always been problems surrounding the funding of schools and who should pay for state and local school programs. This has tended to ensure that the teaching of “Civics’ has been pushed to the background!
Defining Civics in the Modern Era
Civics is defined as the study of ‘The rights and obligations of citizens in society.’ It derives from the Latin word “Civicus,’ meaning relating to a citizen. There has been much criticism in recent years over the lack of implementation of Civics training in public schools.
There was a push in the 20th-Century to change the word from “Civics’ to the seemingly more encompassing: “Problems in American Democracy,’ or PAD. But the idea of learning more about how our government works, as a whole has become a dated or a controversial subject in recent years.
Question: What can you do for your country?
When President John F Kennedy was inaugurated in 1961, he gave a famous speech with the quote: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what YOU can do for your country!” In that context, the Peace Corps was formed, and an entire generation of young people seemed to become energized and focused on giving back.
That notion has unfortunately not been replicated in recent years. There have been movements for Civil Rights and for Women’s Equality and for LGBTQ Rights that have emerged from the shadows of the original Civil Rights Movement. However, the energy and excitement that has been channeled into activism has not produced a generation of citizens that are interested in learning about the history of their democracy, and perhaps even the future of democracy in the United States!
The Good News about Civic Engagement
The good news is this. In the 20th century, the number of autocracies fell in the last half of the century and the number of democracies rose to well over 60 percent as we moved into the 21st Century. The bad news? Autocracy has recently seen a rise and there are some democratic countries that have fallen in recent years.
The education of citizens as to what democracy is, what it demands of its citizens, and what is needed to continue to thrive and flourish as a republic are part of this ongoing debate. Civics is tied into the enlightenment of all people living in a democracy. The United States cannot continue to take the advancement of our democracy for granted….As citizens of the United States of America, it’s imperative that we “Know our Civics!”
We invite everyone to please download a copy of the new (free) Civics Guide from 21st Century: “Your Civics Guide’ is available here!
