Our lives are marked by rhythms. Some involve phases of life, whether childhood, young adulthood, middle age, or older years. Some (related) rhythms include circumstances such as particular jobs, marriage , and children . Others are annual, recurring within a particular year. Holidays and seasons fall into this category.
Another annual rhythm for many of us is the beginning of school . In the past and coming few weeks, teachers and students return for another academic year, both at the K-12 and university levels. This time asks those of us involved in education to reflect anew on the daunting and important task before us.
I teach political science at the university level. We face a crisis in education today, especially regarding citizenship. Too many Americans do not know all three branches of our national government or more than a couple of rights secured in the first eight amendments to the Constitution.
This dearth of knowledge invites political crisis. Our political system operates on the basis of popular rule. Humanly speaking, the people hold the ultimate sovereign power. While the people should rule, the question of whether they actually do relates to education.
Ignorance is not bliss. Lacking knowledge makes one susceptible to manipulation by others. The one or the few may prey upon the popular ignorance to wrest effective control even as the people still go through the motions of voting. We risk a monarchy or aristocracy, in fact.
We need other means to guard against this threat. A return to separation of powers, one that reforms the bureaucracy away from its extra-constitutional structure, would be a necessary part. Enhanced federalism that gives greater local control of sensitive political issues would allow citizens more direct participation and, thus, power in the political process.
Yet these reforms and others sorely needed only will work if grounded on the solid foundation of an informed citizenry. They must vote for candidates promising and acting on a return to separation of powers. Yet how will they make this demand and hold officers accountable on these grounds if they do not know what the Constitution’s separation of powers involves?
Moreover, how can citizens push for enhanced federalism if they do not know the Constitution’s division of authority between state and national governments? The same could be said about protecting our fundamental rights against infringement by Washington or our state capitols.
The work of civic education must precede and inform all of these efforts. Only by citizens knowing the Constitution and their own liberties will they then wisely exert their political power as the sovereign people in effective ways.
We should approach this educational task with urgency. Parents have been right to demand more of what their children learn in civics as well as other areas of knowledge. Teachers must step up as well, knowing more is at stake than our own jobs.
As the new school year begins, we must rededicate ourselves to the noble and difficult task before us. We must renew our republic through informing students about their country’s principles, laws, and institutions. More than informing, we must cultivate their hearts as well. Citizenship is not just about head learning but heart learning as well. We must show them why America, imperfect as it has been and still is, remains the greatest country on earth. We must display to them, honestly, the fight for human liberty and equality that has marked us apart from so many other peoples in history.
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That story is a beautiful one. It is an exciting one. If we return students to it year after year, then we may instill in them new rhythms of reflection. They may learn again the patriotism that we need and, in too many cases, lack.
Let us not shy away from this mission. Let us embrace it for ourselves, for our children, and for our country.
Adam Carrington is an associate professor at Ashland University.
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