Should Civics, and Constitutional Rights be taught in school each year?

Question

Some districts include a class in Civics in middle school, and that's it. Some include a topic or two in their social science or history class.

Would society benefit from a class teaching about Civil Rights beginning in elementary school, to guarantee that all social classes among the people grow up informed?

Answer 1

Absolutely.

I suspect that civics are taught in many forms...from simple politeness in the early grades to history explained in the later years.
Civics as it's own class ?
Yes. Scaled for the year it is taught, but yes.

Answer 2

Very few people understand their rights. I was taught civics and government not only in school but by my parents and in the Boy Scouts.

I run into people all the time that have some pretty distorted beliefs involving their rights and the Constitution.

It would be nice if people started learning more about their rights. But I think they are to interested in what Brittany Spears did last night. That's probably the root of the problem. People would rather watch TMZ then read a book.

Answer 3

I agree in part. I do think kids probably need to start learning a little more about our country at an earlier age. But given that the US is mainly based on laws and philosophies, I don't know that 6-7 year-olds are old enough to understand the concepts.

When I was in school, we specifically studied US history in 8th grade and 11th grade, and then took government for half of our senior year. 8th grade year included a section specifically on the constitution which included a very comprehensive test which was required to graduate from 8th grade.

For the average person, I think that's more than enough time to understand how the US government works. The problem is more in the way things are taught in US schools. For the most part, we are taught to memorize and regurgitate information but there is little to no emphasis on comprehension or critical thinking.

Answer 4

We had classes on the "charter of rights and freedoms" (Canada's bill of rights) in high school. I think that children are old enough to understand these concepts at that age.

I don't think it would hurt anyone if the basic concepts were introduced at a younger age. The issue is that there is so much government mandated curriculum already in place, the teachers have a tough time fitting it in as it is.

Answer 5

It should be taught in middle school and high school, though not necessarily every year. I think it's particularly important in a kids junior or senior year in high school because they're going to be voting soon. It's important that they understand how the government works and how it's impacted by their vote. It's scary when I see how uninformed many people are on this board when it comes to the basic functions of our government.

Answer 6

The less we teach children about our way of life, rights and responsibilities and what it means to be American the less we should expect of their national loyalities, civic participation and social interaction.

They are what they learn.



g-day!

Answer 7

i don't think so. I think they need to teach on virtues.

When people learn the system they find the holes and use it to their benefit and thus take away what freedom we have left. Because they have to come up with a patch to fix it!