Nov 2019 Newsletter

News from the Center for Civic Education

Help Send High-Need Students to the Congressional Academy, Apply for the 2020 Presidential and Congressional Academies, Amy Gallaway Named Alaska Teacher of the Year, and More in This Month's Newsletter.

Empower the Next Generation This #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday, December 3, is a movement to support nonprofits that produce positive change in the world. This year, you can help the Center for Civic Education develop the next generation of informed and responsible young people by donating to the Congressional Academy for American History & Civics. The Academy is a two-week immersive educational experience for high school students that strengthens their ability to effectively and responsibly engage in government and civic life. Your donation will help fund the costs for 5 high-need students to come to the Academy in July 2020.

Learn more.

Now Accepting Applications for Free Student and Teacher Institutes!

The Center is now accepting applications from high-need high school students and teachers for the 2020 Presidential and Congressional Academies. The Academies will be held in Baltimore on July 11-25, 2020

Longtime We the People Teacher Named Alaska Teacher of the Year

Congratulations to Amy Gallaway, who was recently named 2020 Alaska Teacher of the Year! Gallaway received the news at a surprise assembly on October 25 at West Valley High School in Fairbanks, where she teaches We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. Education Commissioner Michael Johnson told the assembled students and staff that Gallaway "doesn't just teach democracy, she has you do democracy." Gallaway said, "The extensive professional development I received from the Center, as well as the expertise of the scholars and mentors have contributed immeasurably to my success as a teacher."

Little Citizens Showcase Features Bosnian Preschoolers

Preschoolers in Bosnia and Herzegovina demonstrated their democratic knowledge and skills through art and role play at Civitas BiH's 6th Little Citizens Showcase. The showcase culminated 120 hours of study related to the four concepts in the Foundations of Democracy curriculum.

Charles N. Quigley Interviewed About Civic Education for Marketplace Radio Show

Center Executive Director Charles N. Quigley was featured in a November 6 story about civic education on the Marketplace public radio show. "Very few people in the United States understand the [political] system," said Quigley. "And that's a major problem with people consuming what's going on now, with the move to impeach the president and so forth, that people don't even know how impeachment works."

Two New We the People Textbooks Available

The Center published two We the People textbooks this summer for elementary students. We the People: The Citizen & Democracy introduces students in grades 3-5 to the foundational ideas of American representative democracy. A new fourth edition of the We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution Level 1 textbook for upper elementary students has also been released. This completely updated edition contains new content and images. The teacher's guide for each book provides section-by-section suggestions for teaching the lessons. Both books are accompanied by online student and teacher resource centers.

Quick Quiz! Which state does not require voter registration?

A. South Carolina
B. South Dakota
C. North Carolina
D. North Dakota

Read on to learn the answer!

How Has the Role of the President Changed Since the Founding of the Nation?

In this video from the We the People Open Course, scholar David Adler explains the role of the president and the expansion of presidential power since the Founding era. Adler is the president of the Alturas Institute, a non-profit organization "created to promote the Constitution, gender equality, and civic education." The We the People Open Course is a free, self-paced online course that features videos of notable scholars and accompanying online exercises. Participants journey from the philosophical foundations of the U.S. Constitution through to the modern interpretation and application of its ideals.

We the People Alumni Elected to City Commission

We the People alumni are making waves the Michigan's Upper Peninsula! Evan Bonsall and Jenna Smith, both Marquette Senior High School graduates, were elected to the city commission. The commission elected Smith as mayor. Bonsall is a 2019 graduate of Harvard University. Congratulations, we are proud of our We the People alumni!

Congressional Academy Student Produces Podcast

Congressional Academy student Jeffrey Lee and his fellow We the People students at Arcadia High School in California recently released a podcast episode about the importance of civic engagement as a way of monitoring and influencing public policy. The episode, "The Pendulum Swings At Eisenhower Park," featured coverage of a protest against the removal of basketball courts from a local park.

Center Resources Featured in Michelle Obama's "When We All Vote" Toolkit

The Center for Civic Education's Citizens, Not Spectators voting curriculum and several of its Constitution Day lessons are featured in the When We All Vote toolkits for high school and elementary/middle school students and teachers. When We All Vote involves schools in encouraging students and parents to register to vote. The nonpartisan When We All Vote program was launched by former first lady Michelle Obama in 2018. Citizens, Not Spectators is a voter education program for grades 4-12 developed through a cooperative effort by the Center for Civic Education and the Arsalyn Program of Ludwick Family Foundation.

Constitution Documentary to Premiere in 2020

Filmmaker David Garrigus is set to release "The American Constitution" in spring 2020. The documentary features noted authors, scholars, and historians providing their analysis and insights about the Constitution. Experts interviewed for the film include Gordon Wood, Pauline Maier, Akhil Reed Amar, David O. Stewart, Carol Berkin, Stuart Leibiger, Christopher Collier, Ralph Ketcham, Michael Meyerson, and Jeff Broadwater. Visit the American Constitution website to watch outtakes from the film, and consider donating to support the production.

Quiz Answer!

D. North Dakota (see episode 3728)

For more quizzes and learning opportunities, check out the 60-Second Civics podcast and daily civics quiz!

Nevada State Standards Correlated to We the People

Nevada We the People mentors have correlated all three levels of We the People: The Citizen & the Constitution to the Nevada state standards. Correlations between the Nevada Academic Content Government Standards and the AP U.S. Government exam are also available. You can find them online here.