American Legion Post 539 recently brought concerns about the lack of civics education at local high schools to the attention of the Craven County Board of Education on April 1st.
Elizabeth Hartman, commander of American Legion Post 539, sent an emailed letter to the commission detailing concerns that there is “a clear lack of civics education being taught in Craven County schools.” .
The letter explains that concerns arose after members of American Legion Post 539 interviewed three New Bern High School students for the American Legion Boys and Girls State Program.
Participants in the program will learn the rights, responsibilities, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens, the letter explains. Program activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, rallies, bands, distinguished guest speakers, and recreational programs.
The American Legion National Post selects rising high school seniors to participate in the program. Hartman said he was honored to serve as commander and had the opportunity to participate in an interview on the program.
Hartman explained that three CCS students who took the required semester-long civics course were interviewed.
“When asked to explain the Constitution, only one student could answer with confidence. Ironically, that student had not taken civics,” Hartman wrote in the letter. I wrote it in “But her father was a U.S. Marine.”
Hartman said none of the students could name a single elected official, including a U.S. senator, U.S. representative, mayor, city council member or county commissioner.
Additionally, all students needed to be informed about the upcoming presidential election. The two students knew that a woman had once run for president of the United States, but none of them were able to name more than one candidate.
Out of curiosity, Hartman asked students to elaborate on the lessons they learned in the civics course.
To my surprise, the letter said that the class consisted of watching CNN 10, where the important news of the day was explained in 10 minutes.
Hartman explained that students were asked to write down their top three topics on a piece of paper as proof that they had watched the video.
Of the three students interviewed, one said she learned about current events through Instagram, and the other said she learned about history and current events through TikTok.
The Sun Journal spoke with Shajuana Seller, executive director of secondary education at CCS, to learn more about the history and civics required of students.
Most students take the required civics courses, America's Founding Principal and North Carolina Civic Literacy, in 11th or 12th grade, Seller said. However, some students may be able to take the course sooner depending on their graduation goals.
Seller said students will learn about the different branches of government, the separation of powers, founding documents, the democratic process, advocacy and more. She also said that students learn about current events and that class materials often incorporate discussion of current events so that students understand how government and politics affect their lives. He said that
“Overall, we strive to ensure that we provide our students with the knowledge and skills they need to be active citizens so that they can actively participate and contribute to their communities,” Seller said. Ta.
Mr Seller said CCS takes a comprehensive approach to tracking student learning.
Teachers distribute tests and quizzes, and students must take an end-of-course civics exam unless exempt. School administrators and learning systems coaches perform classroom check-ins to ensure teachers are engaged with students.
Sellers emphasized that CCS only hires certified teachers and provides training to those who still need certification.
“On an ongoing basis, we offer virtual and in-person professional development opportunities, and we have digital education technology facilitators who work with teachers to integrate technology into their lessons. And, of course, we work with teachers to We also have assistant principals and principals,” Sellers said. We also have mentors who work with teachers and provide teaching tips. ”
Teachers are also provided with a pacing guide based on the number of weeks it takes to cover each topic.
CCS also offers several extracurricular activities for students to learn about civics. Two of his examples Seller cited are the Junior Civilian Club and student government.
“Every club that students belong to will elect officers, which is part of their civics learning,” Seller added.
In a letter to the BOE, Hartman explained that Post 539 often had problems communicating with schools in Craven County.
For the past 10 years, retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Dave Nelson has spearheaded the Boys and Girls State Plan for Post 539. Hartman said Nelson has experienced these communication issues with CCS.
“From inconsistent to non-existent communication, he has had a difficult time keeping the school informed, and that is through no fault of his own,” Hartman wrote in the letter. “On the rare occasions when he was available, he was generally disinterested and uninterested.”
Hartman said in the letter that Nelson has yet to encounter any such obstacles from private schools in the county or from Pamlico County public schools.
Hartman received a response to her email from Craven County Schools Superintendent Wendy Miller on April 1 and followed up on her concerns after spring break.
On April 15, Mr. Miller addressed concerns about the lack of communication and civics education that Mr. Hartman outlined in his initial email.
“I am shocked that he feels he is viewed with indifference and indifference,” Miller wrote. “I felt that our staff was excellent and committed to providing opportunities for our students both in and out of the classroom.”
Miller explained that in North Carolina, civics and government are incorporated into K-12 social studies curriculum standards. She made it clear that civics cannot only be taught in isolated courses.
“The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has a site that shows all standards, curriculum resources, and parent guides for social studies curriculum across all grade levels,” Miller wrote in her response. “On the site, you can select your grade level and course and explore course standards and resources.”
According to DPI, here is an overview of what students will learn:
“In grades 9-12, children use inquiry skills to explore the history, geography, economy, government, and culture of their local community, North Carolina, the United States, and the world. They learn about important events and diverse cultures. , and inquiry learning about how the past shapes our present, students gain knowledge using the lens of a historian, geographer, economist, or political scientist to understand the past and the world today. The North Carolina Social Studies Standards curriculum teaches students to explore, think critically, evaluate sources, use evidence, and solve problems. , communicate ideas and call for action.”
