09 November

[BmorePat87]

(10-24-2016, 10:22 AM)Belsnickel Wrote: And, let's be frank, a lot of time what is covered in that one civics class is not often enough information to really make an informed voter. I mean, maybe my standards are a bit higher but how many people coming out of HS that have taken civics understand the evolution of federalism, the difference between civil liberties and civil rights, the selective incorporation of our liberties under the 14th, or the role of public opinion in the political landscape? To me, these are just a few important concepts, yet I know they weren't a part of my civics education in HS, and I doubt they are today for most people.

Doesn't help that we're the assessed social studies course for high school in Maryland, so there's a lot of "teaching to the test" in American Government. We cover federalism (influences of the Articles with it), don't have time to get nuanced with the difference between rights and liberties, just focus on what rights are protected by the Bill of Rights, I try to touch on the 14th Amendment as much as possible, but it isn't assessed, but we do focus on public opinion. Citizen involvement is a whole unit.