Volume 2 | Issue 3
When and Why Did America Stop Teaching Civics?
The research is clear: study after study shows that we Americans don't know civics. This is especially the case for younger Americans, who data reveal to be less informed about civics than their older counterparts. Obviously there is a need for more and better civic education in schools, a proposition that consistently receives strong bipartisan support. Yet American public schools are not as a rule prioritizing civic education. Why is this so? When and why did America stop teaching civics? Read our latest policy brief here.
The Art of Diplomacy
With Ambassador Stuart E. Eizenstat
Ambassador Eizenstat joined the O'Connor Institute to discuss his latest book, The Art of Diplomacy, which in one readable volume covers every major contemporary international agreement, from the treaty to end the Vietnam War to the Kyoto Protocols and the Iranian Nuclear Accord, and has earned glowing reviews from people as different in outlook as Tony Blair and Henry Kissinger. Diplomacy is a craft founded on trust and compromise. What lessons might its history hold for international and domestic politics today?
Civics 101 Micro-Lesson: State Governments
Does the state government differ from the federal government? How does the state government impact me? In this month's Civics 101 Lesson, take 5 -10 minutes and find out. Once completed, you will know more about how your state and the federal government work together and the difference they make in your life each and every day. It's easy to register, sign up to increase your knowledge!
Thurgood Marshall: An American Icon
Thurgood Marshall’s selection for the Supreme Court was a natural progression of his impressive legal career and deep commitment to civil rights. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson understood the importance of appointing Marshall as the first African American justice. Johnson believed that Marshall’s experiences and perspectives would be invaluable to the Court, saying it was “the right thing to do, the right time to do it, and the right man and the right place.”
