DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION: 2001-2002

Most of us took what was generally called "civics" in high school or even earlier. It was a part of the fabric of education. Unfortunately, that's no longer true. Fewer and fewer students are being exposed to classes and other educational opportunities that give them a sense of their role in a free society. That fact was pointed out with some urgency by a statewide task force that reported to State Superintendent of Public Instruction John Benson last year.

That report recommended some specific changes: Make civics, or "Democratic Citizenship Education" as it is now called, a required part of the curriculum. Already, there are requirements in Wisconsin high schools for three credits of social studies; the task force recommended that DCE be a half credit within that requirement. It also recommended that teachers get more training, because they're the first to admit that they're not sure how to teach such courses in a way that gets beyond the rudimentary "there are three branches of government" approach.

There will be a push in the Legislature to make changes. Also, it's likely to be a part of the DPI forum. Finally, the nation has just emerged from an election process in which the importance of voting, understanding our system of government and understanding our judicial system was examined for weeks on end.

Learning and practicing democracy … using schools as laboratories for democracy … citizenship in a global society … These are powerful themes that We the People/Wisconsin feels are important to stress.