The test results are in, and Kentucky is barely passing the test when it comes to the health of its citizens. Civics education is desperately needed in our schools, and lawmakers need to act now to help our children grow into self-governing adults.
My office recently conducted a citizen health assessment with mixed results. Kentuckians seem to be more accepting of other points of view compared to the rest of the country. Our assessment found that his 75 percent of Kentuckians are friends with people who hold opposing views, and 61 percent think politicians are always better at compromising than bickering.
michael adams
Another bright spot in this assessment is that just 19% of Kentuckians get their news primarily from social media. Kentuckians overwhelmingly get their news from legitimate local news outlets, whether it's television or newspapers.
That's good news. Here's the bad news.
When Kentuckians were surveyed on civics knowledge, they didn't pass. Only half can name her three branches of government. Fewer than half can appoint local elected officials. When asked to name members of parliament and constitutional law officials, the number dropped even further. For some constitutional offices, only 30 percent of Kentuckians could identify the officeholder, even though surveys were conducted during elections for those offices that year.
Looking at social civics, the relationship between citizens' health and social interactions, didn't do much better. People who combine civic engagement with personal relationships tend to be the most civically engaged and healthy. Our research shows that 54 percent of Kentuckians talk about politics with family or friends several times a week, and only 38 percent have had contact with a public official in the past year.
There are things we can do to help future generations succeed. Because Kentucky is one of the few states that does not offer civics education, I have asked the Legislature to require civics education in all high schools in Kentucky. Our children deserve to do better than set themselves up for failure.
We also need a solid civics exam for high school graduates. Current tests are woefully inadequate and insufficient to measure public understanding.
These two requirements are not only logical moves to build a future for an engaged nation, but can also reap benefits across the board. Research from Harvard University and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation shows that many of the skills needed to succeed in the 21st century workforce, such as civility and cooperation, are associated with higher levels of civics education. got it.
Use this Civic Learning Week to reflect on the importance of civics and encourage your state's leaders to do more to improve the future of our children.
Michael Adams is Kentucky's Secretary of State.
