Patchwork Progress: How Civics Education is Falling Short—and What We Can Do About It

Class Dismissed

In recent years, the emphasis on STEM education has undoubtedly equipped students with valuable skills for the future. But has this focus come at the expense of other critical subjects, like civics?

In today’s “Bright Idea” segment, we discuss the current state of civics education in the U.S. with journalist, speaker, and author Holly Korby. Korby, who wrote Building Better Citizens, shares her candid assessment of how well the nation prepares young people to understand their role in democracy, grading the U.S. a C-.

Korby points to the writings of Horace Mann, who, in the 1800s, championed public education with a core mission: to produce informed citizens who grasp how government functions. Yet, as Korby highlights, we need to catch up to this fundamental goal today.

While states like Massachusetts and Illinois stand out for their robust civics programs, Korby describes the overall picture as a “patchwork system” that varies widely in quality across the country.

Despite the challenges, Korby offers hope, outlining actionable steps educators can take to better equip students with the knowledge they need to engage in civic life. We explore these solutions further in Episode 272 of Class Dismissed.

Tune in to the Class Dismissed podcast on your favorite app or iTunes to hear Korby’s insights.

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