September 15, 2008
Legislators Are Getting Ready to Teach Real World Civics
Policymakers from all 50 states will participate in the nation's largest civics lesson.
DENVER - State legislators from across the country will meet with some of their youngest constituents this week. America's Legislators Back to School Program kicks off its 10th year this Monday, Sept. 15 and will run through the entire 2008-2009 school year. The program, sponsored by NCSL's Trust for Representative Democracy, encourages policymakers to visit the nation's classrooms to help students understand the importance of being an engaged citizen.
"The Back to School program brings civics to life for students across the country," said Jan Goehring, a program director with NCSL's Trust for Representative Democracy. "It helps today's youth understand how our government works and why they should want to be involved."
Each year more than 1,200 state lawmakers visit an estimated 300,000 students. Back to School is designed to help students understand the legislative process of debate, negotiation and compromise. It also helps legislators gauge how students feel about issues. Lawmakers and students interact in informal discussions, participate in mock legislative sessions or simulated public hearings, and even draft bills together.
A new study, commissioned by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and conducted by Turcotte Public Administration Consulting and Training, LLC (TPACT), examined the impact of the America's Legislators Back to School program on participating students' understanding and appreciation of representative democracy. Evaluators tested middle school students in Louisiana and Wyoming.
In both states, students who participated in the America's Legislators Back to School program scored significantly higher than control groups who did not have a classroom visit on concepts such as appreciation of the right of every citizen to be heard by his or her representatives; the procedures a state legislature uses to resolve differences about public policy including debate, negotiation and compromise. The report showed students score higher in knowledge and appreciation of representative democracy when legislators and teachers use the recommended lessons, materials and address the program objectives.
"We have known for a long time that students, teachers and legislators love this program. Now we have a scientific evaluation that shows bringing legislators into classrooms improves understanding and appreciation of our system of democracy," said Goehring.
The America's Legislators Back to School Program was initiated in 1999 to provide a contemporary approach for engaging American students in understanding our system of democracy. NCSL provides educational materials about representative democracy for legislators to use in their presentations to K-12 classes. NCSL also provides training, promotional strategies, lesson plans, and organizational support for state coordinators and legislators.
Many notable and influential education and public service organizations endorse the program. They include:
American Association of School Administrators
American Federation of Teachers
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Center for Civic Education
Center on Congress at Indiana University
Close Up Foundation
Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
National Association of Elementary School Principals
National Association of Secondary School Principals
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
National Catholic Educational Association
National Constitution Center
National Council for the Social Studies
National Education Association
National Middle School Association
National School Boards Association
Reading Recovery Council of North America
The Dirksen Congressional Center
NCSL is a bipartisan organization that serves the legislatures and staffs of the states, commonwealths and territories. It provides research, technical assistance and opportunities for policymakers to exchange ideas on the most pressing state issues and is an effective and respected advocate for the interests of the states in the American federal system.
###
|
