ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT LEGISLATIVE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON CIVIC EDUCATION
Minutes of the Meeting
Tuesday, November 8, 2005
9:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 1
Members Present:
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Senator Tim Bee, CoChair |
Representative Jennifer Burns, CoChair |
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Senator Linda Aguirre |
Representative Mark Anderson |
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Senator Linda Gray |
Representative Andy Biggs |
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Senator Harry Mitchell |
Representative Martha Garcia |
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Representative David Lujan |
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Members Absent:
Senator Toni Hellon
Staff:
Dallas Gold, Senate Education Committee Analyst
Brian Lockery, House Education Committee Analyst
Co-chairman Bee called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. and attendance was noted.
INTRODUCTION OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Senator Bee introduced the Committee members from the Senate and Representative Burns introduced the Committee members from the House of Representatives.
CHARGE OF THE COMMITTEE
Dallas Gold, Senate Education Committee Analyst, explained the charge of the Committee being the following points:
· Study the importance of educating students about citizen involvement in our government.
· Promote communication and collaboration among organizations in the State that conduct civic education programs.
· Establish a State commission on civic education.
· The Committee shall make a final report of its findings and recommendations to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Governor by December 31, 2005, and shall provide a copy of this report to the Secretary of State and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
Senator Bee explained that he, Representative Burns, Representative Anderson, and Senator Gray, along with several other non-legislative members have been working on this issue for about three years as part of the Congressional Conference on Civic Education. He stated that the Ad Hoc Committee is part of the plan for Arizona to move forward in this area. He said that information was provided by some outstanding national speakers, in addition to information on the historical perspective.
PRESENTATIONS
Historical Perspective
Lynda Rando, President, Cross Continent Consulting, distributed a handout, How the American Public Views Congress (Attachment A) and explained the statistics found therein. She also referenced the 1918 report published by the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education of the National Education Association. The report came to be known as the “Seven Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education.” The principles that were set forth by this commission were health, worthy home membership, command of the fundamental processes, vocation, civic education, worthy use of leisure and ethical character. Ms. Rando stated that Horace Mann, known as the Father of American Education, had an idea of what an educated citizen was about. He wrote that an educated citizen is one who is not only knowledgeable about the subject, but informed, skilled, and has actually internalized the meaning of participation and actively engages in the social and political life of their neighborhood, community, state, nation, and world affairs. The Congressional Conference on Civic Education brought together hundreds of policy makers, educational leaders, researchers and stake holders from all 50 states to explore, discuss, debate and adopt a series of conference statements that address the urgency of what must and should be done to insure that civic education is adequately taught in American schools. Ms. Rando stated that as the statistics show in the booklet she handed out, that the public generally disapproves of how Congress does their job, largely avoids the political process, and does not communicate with their representatives in Washington. The results suggest that civic education programs designed to provide useful information about the role of democratic institutions such as Congress can foster better-informed citizens. She stated that the Arizona delegation to the Conference has accomplished over the last two years the following:
Representative Burns explained that this is the third of five years for the Congressional Conference and that Congress has placed a high level of importance on civic education. She said that Senator Bee and she have been reaching out to the different levels to make them a part and aware of what they are doing and the whole idea is getting everybody to be a part of it. There are things already going on, but the idea is to bring everybody together and move forward to make it a big statewide and national effort.
National Campaign to Promote Civic Education
Ted McConnell, Director, National Campaign to Promote Civic Education, stressed the importance of civic education in Arizona schools. He explained that the goal of civic education is informed, responsible participation in civic life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of the American Constitutional Democracy. To be effective, a citizen must acquire not only a body of knowledge and skills, but also certain dispositions, such as a willingness to listen to the point of view of others and a willingness to participate at all levels.
Mr. McConnell stated those who founded our free universal system of public education in this country understood that each generation must be taught the rights and responsibilities of American Citizenship. Democratic behavior must be taught anew to each generation. This is the essential civic mission of our schools. It seems today that we have lost sight of preparing our students for citizenship in favor of preparing them just to be members of the work force. The government course that remains common today describes and analyzes government in a more distant way often with little explicit discussion of a citizen’s role. Students do not usually have a government class until twelfth grade and then often only during the last semester. That is too little too late, especially when it misses an entire population that is growing in our nation, the dropouts.
Mr. McConnell said that every state but one has standards that address civic education, however, all too often these standards contain far more content than the classroom teacher can cover in the time allowed that subject. Far too many standards stress just the book knowledge and leave out the instruction necessary to impact students’ dispositions and civic attitudes. Civic education can also be taught through other courses. It has been said that all emphasis is on math, science, and reading, but if a person does not vote or participate, the country is in a heck of a fix. The deficiencies cited are usually a result of actions of policy makers at all levels. Action must be taken now to engage policy makers and persuade them to provide the time and resources necessary to restore the civic mission of our schools. The Civic Mission of Schools is a report that has become the civic service and character education community’s consensus document on how to reverse the slide of civics and how to provide the high quality civic education to all students. The report identifies six promising approaches to civic education that research has determined and shown to be effective (Attachment B).
Mr. McConnell informed the committee that a very positive development that has already been mentioned is the advent of the Congressional Conferences on Civic Education, which is co-hosted by the four leaders of the United States Congress. The theory behind the Conferences is to bring together policy makers, legislators, State Board of Education members, Chief State School Officers, local Board of Education members, with front line educators and Civic Learning professionals and point out the dangerously low level of civic engagement in our nation and the positive effect civic education has on civic engagement.
Mr. Connell stated that every delegation that left the Conference has developed a plan of action and is busy implementing those plans. Mr. McConnell explained that there is abundant evidence from both research and everyday observations that good civic learning produces desirable results when students receive sustained and systemic education, they become more knowledgeable, more interested, and more motivated to participate in improving the system. There is also abundant evidence that knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated teachers are the most important factor in providing a sound civic education for our students. Teachers need adequate preparation and support to give adequate attention to civic education. Civic education should be considered a course subject on a level with others such as history, math and science. Mr. McConnell suggested everyone consider the consequences of not acting to restore the civic mission of our schools. It would be increased disengagement and feelings of apathy or alienation on the part of citizens towards the institution of governess. Mr. McConnell concluded with stating whether a republic or representative democracy can be called healthy if its citizens are alienated and disengaged.
Senator Gray distributed a handout, Democracy vs. Republic (Attachment C). She stated that she thinks it should be made clear whether the United States is a republic or a democracy so there would be no confusion.
Mr. McConnell said that what is most important is that we restore the civic mission of our schools.
Senator Mitchell explained that all the progress the United States has made in expanding and including more people into the governmental process should weigh in on the debate between what is a republic and what is a democracy. However, he stated that what is important is how many people participate and how to get people to participate.
Senator Bee stated that the Committee had two very clear perspectives on this and the Committee is not about defining republic or representative democracy, it is about civic education.
Representative Biggs stated that civic education is one of the most important functions, however, instead the schools are weighed down with the teaching of fluff that is extraneous to what good public education should be. He stated that it is critical in education to properly label and properly use names to teach children what is important and vital.
Mr. McConnell said that in classroom instruction it is absolutely essential to teach the correct facts of history as well as the participatory skills and the disposition and propensity to participate. He said that the problem is that the schools for a variety of reasons do not have the time or resources available to provide a robust civic education.
Representative Biggs stated that while working with a professor at Arizona State University (ASU) on a survey of political science students at the university level, he was shocked at the low level of political awareness. He stated that for all of the lowering of barriers of civic education and voting, the voter turn out has dropped considerably.
Senator Mitchell said that with 57% of the public disapproving of the way Congress is doing their work, it is hardly surprising that the public feels alienated and does not engage in politics. He said that one key is to provide support, materials, and all kinds of programs to the classroom teacher. He also said that extracurricular activities and engaging student participation is vital. He said that people no longer belong to civic organizations that supported ball clubs, summer programs, and other programs, which was one way people received some civic education. Senator Mitchell suggested that to do something about civic education, not only the curriculum, but lesson plans need to be considered. He said that there is a need for people who are enthusiastic about coming to the Capitol to think they can make a difference.
Representative Burns explained that what the committee needs to do is look at where the state is at this point and how to move forward. She said that there is a lot of spillover from getting kids involved because they then put pressure on their parents to get involved. She said that a way needs to be found to engage the over eighteen age group who are old enough to vote but are not doing so.
Data and Current Events
Jeff Schrade, Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, explained his background growing up in Arizona. He explained that his organization is reaching out to anyone and everyone to join the collaborative effort to strengthen civic education and the civic mission of schools in Arizona. He said he is also involved with the Arizona Civics Coalition that is committed to helping young Arizonans to acquire and learn the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their adult lives. He said that his organization has been gathering data to define the state of civic education in Arizona. It is well established that our youth of today do not possess the political awareness and knowledge of basic concepts. Mr. Schrade said that the student survey in Arizona will aim to uncover the ”why”, why civic knowledge is so low. Another survey will be done to gauge public perception towards civic education and the general civic engagement of Arizona citizens. He said that the data should be complete in early 2006 and will be online publicly at www.azcivics.org. His organization is also conducting separate surveys and focus groups of district administrators and school principals. He explained that so far it is known that civics is most heavily covered in eighth and twelfth grades. There is virtually no civics taught in the other grades. He stated that only 38% of the districts surveyed have service learning programs linked to civics instruction. He stated that 39% of the districts surveyed say that classroom instruction time devoted to civics, government and citizenship has been reduced because of standardized exams. Mr. Schrade explained that there is a great need for more in-service training on civics education. Mr. Schrade explained that when the data gathering is complete, his organization will plan and convene a series of community forums across the state where community leaders can consider the data and develop effective local strategies to improve civic education and engagement. Mr. Schrade explained that the public policy of strengthening civic education will have to be supported and implemented by Arizona’s 211 school districts, 500 plus Arizona Charter schools and the 200 plus private and parochial schools. He added that parents and grandparents must be counted as the most influential people on a person’s development as a citizen. Arizona students have shown tremendous enthusiasm for interesting and interactive civic education programs repeatedly putting Arizona schools at the top of nationwide academic competitions. Mr. Scrade said that Arizona’s potential as a platform to create exceptional civic programs is excellent.
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION
Senator Gray stated that it has been found that if a student is not participating in extracurricular activities that they are most likely to drop out of school. Teachers were asked to give two personal things about each of their students, they pointed out the troublemakers and the highly academic. The rest of the students were left out. She explained that a problem that adds to that is the large populations in the high schools. When you have a large population competing for a small amount of activities, a number of students will not be able to connect with extracurricular activities.
Representative Anderson explained that these are the same struggles and challenges that have been dealt with for several hundred years and the only problem will be to stop dealing with them, so it is very exciting that these things are being addressed. He said that one of the most important responsibilities of a citizen is to transfer the information and history of our country to the next generation.
Representative Burns said that she had heard the saying that “The only title in our democracy superior to that of President is the title of Citizen.” She stressed that the focus of this is not just civic education but also civic engagement. She said it is really going to take all of us to step up to this and move forward and do it all in a non-partisan way. Representative Burns said that it is really a matter of getting anybody and everybody out there to focus on civic education and civic engagement. That means everyone has to put aside his or her personal agendas to find a way of how to do this and then move forward to reach as many as possible. She said that she and Senator Bee would be contacting everyone to get opinions and possible next steps.
SCHEDULE NEXT MEETING
Senator Bee said that a tentative date of December 6 is being considered for the next meeting.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 10:27 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Shelley Ponce
Committee Secretary
(Tapes and attachments on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115.)
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Joint Legislative Ad Hoc
Committee on Civic Education
November 8, 2005
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