What's New in Civic Education and Youth Civic Engagement Work .... (May 2003 Archive Section)

May 30, 2003

• "Current Political Climate is Not Conducive to Civic Renewal Efforts Popular with Foundations, Or Is It? Two Writers Disagree." Though grounded in pragmatism, projects to revive civil society, which are popular with foundations, have a "utopian ring" in a "cynical, post-9/11 political world," according to an Indiana University political science professor. Jeffrey Isaac reviewed several books on the subject of civil renewal in the April 11 Chronicle of Higher Education, writing that broader questions of social and economic vulnerability are now trumped politically by homeland security concerns. But Jay Hein of the Hudson Institute disagrees. Hein wrote in the Winter issue of the Institute's American Outlook magazine that last decade's welfare reform has resulted in an atmosphere favorable to the renewal of civil society, one that seeks to improve the performance of nonprofits. The next step in this renewal process that began with welfare reform, according to Hein, is to transform charity by creating more incentives for nonprofits to assume many of the responsibilities formerly the charge of government. Hein's article at http://bes1.viamedialinq.com/b/u/dfxcyder/1471 is the first of a four-part series in the magazine on the subject of civil society and welfare reform.

  May 29, 2003

• In "Rallying 'Round the Vote Education Leaders Getting Collegians More Involved in Public Life" for USA Today, Mary Beth Marklein provides a summary of the challenges facing college students - perhaps the most volunteer-minded generation in recent memory. With cautious optimism she cites several recent initiatives:

  - In February, about 250 college campuses participated in a national effort encouraging students to ''Raise Your Voice.'' In an effort coordinated by a coalition of college presidents and other educators, students sponsored debates, met with legislators and held other activities aimed at increasing student involvement in public life.

  - In March, as they discussed moral and civic development of undergraduates, scholars at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching announced plans to explore political engagement on campus.

  - In April, millionaire philanthropist Eugene Lang, best known for his ''I Have a Dream'' program, unveiled Project Pericles, in which colleges and universities promise to make civic education an explicit part of their mission.

  - Working with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, interns with Harvard University's Institute of Politics will spend the summer in 10 cities exploring effective ways to engage young people in politics.

  At the same time she states "It's too soon to predict success. But experts insist that nothing short of the future of democracy is at stake. [While] 78% of students say they're registered to vote…that's no guarantee they will actually cast a ballot."

  Quoting Elizabeth Hollander, executive director of the Providence-based Campus Compact, 'One strategy is to link voting to volunteering. As the ''Raise Your Voice'' campaign was developing, ''students were basically saying, 'We can make a difference in these one-to-one non-profit (settings), but we feel so disempowered that we're not even going to vote.' ''

  One student agrees saying that "volunteering isn't enough. Community service can be a launching pad, but I think (an) opportunity is missed…An individual may contribute to a canned-food drive, feel good about it, but then not ask any questions'' about why people are hungry. ''It's important to have that discussion.''

  Another student argues that "student apathy isn't the only - or the primary - cause of political disengagement…it is unfair to call today's students complacent. Young people are screaming, we are literally screaming, and no one is listening.''

  To read the entire article, go to http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20030522/5180035s.htm
  For more information on the Raise Your Voice Campaign go to http://www.actionforchange.org
  

  May 28, 2003

• The Library of Congress is inviting applications for the Kluge Fellowship competition of the John W. Kluge Center. Qualified scholars will conduct research in the Kluge Center using the Library's collections and resources. The Center especially encourages humanistic and social science research. Interdisciplinary, cross-cultural or multilingual research is particularly welcome. Scholars who have received a terminal advanced degree within the past seven years in the humanities, social sciences or in a professional field such as architecture or law are eligible. Exceptions may be made for individuals without continuous academic careers. Applicants may be U.S. citizens or foreign nationals. Fellowships may be held for periods from six to twelve months at a stipend of $3,500 per month. Fellows may begin tenure at any time during the 14-month window between June 1 of the year in which the Fellowship is awarded and August 1 of the year following, providing space is available. Applications must include a research proposal (no longer than three single-spaced pages), a one-paragraph summary, a two-page curriculum vita which should indicate major prior scholarship, an indication of which of the Library's collections will be used for research, and two letters of reference (in English) from individuals who know the quality of the applicant's scholarship. The application form and reference form may be printed from our website. The deadline (including 9 collated copies) must be received at the Library by August 15, 2003.

  For more information contact John W. Kluge Center, Library of Congress LJ120, 101 Independence Ave., S.E., Washington, D.C. 20540-4860. Phone: 202-707-3302; Fax: 202-707-3595; Email: scholarly@loc.gov; website: http://www.loc.gov/kluge

• Standards of Success is a three-year project of the Association of American Universities in partnership with The Pew Charitable Trusts. The project has released an elaborate study to answer the question: "What must students know and be able to do in order to succeed in entry-level university courses?" The section on Social Studies contains detailed standards for all the social sciences. The introduction to this section includes the following general guidance about political science and history:
  - "In political science, a basic civic knowledge is necessary for success. Such basic knowledge includes a sense of how the U.S. government works; including an awareness of the system of checks and balances, legislative, executive and judiciary, and how an amendment is ratified. In addition, successful students have a basic knowledge of, and can distinguish between, economic and political systems. They can describe the differences between capitalism and socialism and between democracy and oligarchy."
  - "In history, students who are ready for college-level study know important events and documents that have shaped the course of U.S. history; the U.S. Constitution, Federal Indian Policy and the Civil Rights movement, to name a few. ..."

  For more information, to order or download a copy go to: http://www.s4s.org/
  

  May 27, 2003

• The Spring/Summer 2003 issue of Street Law News Online is now available. Read about four new publications and program news from partners in Uganda, Ghana, Moldova and the Ukraine. The Spotlight of the issue is "Everyday Law in Ghana and Uganda - Streetlaw Style. Also included are: "Youth Take Action in Moldova and Ukraine"; "High Court Judge Hopes to Bring Streetlaw to Malwai"; and information on Streetlaw's new interactive website. For more information go to: http://www.streetlaw.org/newsletter/spring-summer_03/index.html

• The North Carolina Civic Education Consortium has released the NC Civic Index, which was developed in response to a lack of comprehensive and meaningful measures of civic engagement. The existing measures are limited and offer little insight into the preparation of youth to become engaged citizens. For this reason, the Consortium chose to gather relevant data through a statewide telephone survey. Nearly 800 non-voting age youth, ages 13-17, were asked about their civic skills, behavior, knowledge, attitudes and opportunities. To establish a benchmark for civic education and engagement, the Consortium also surveyed 800 adults on the same issues. Information gathered from the telephone surveys was coupled with existing measures, such as voter turnout, charitable giving and diversity in public office, to create the first-ever statewide assessment of civic education and engagement. The Carnegie Corporation of New York provided funding for the youth component of the NC Civic Index, and the Smith Richardson Foundation provided funding for the adult component. For more information on the Civic Education Index go to http://ncinfo.iog.unc.edu/programs/civiced/civicindex/index.htm

  May 23, 2003

• Over the past several days, several articles have been written about Senator John Kerry's recent speech on national service:
  

  - "Kerry's Patriotic Populism" in The Washington Post, E.J. Dionne writes that "Kerry backed up his patriotic populism with serious service initiatives. His Service for College plan would give young people who gave two years of service four-year scholarships, set at the tuition rate of the public universities in the volunteer's state. He'd make a service commitment and serious civics instruction requirements for high school graduation. He proposes Summers of Service for high school students and an Older Americans in Service program that would allow seniors to earn tuition credits for their grandchildren, or for any child they chose to help. Kerry's speech underscores that the core divide in American politics now is not between liberals and conservatives, or between capitalists and socialists. It is between libertarians and communitarians." To read the entire article, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13115-2003May19.html

  - For the Associated Press Holly Ramer writes that "John Kerry offered a $3.2 billion plan for community service Monday that would make such work a requirement for graduating high school students and allow others to earn four years of in-state college tuition. Speaking at an American Legion hall in Manchester, N.H., the Massachusetts senator outlined his proposal and used the speech as an opportunity to assail President Bush, arguing that the Republican failed to take advantage of the strong interest in volunteerism following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Kerry, who last Friday offered his plan for the nation's health care system, proposed a "service-for-college" initiative in which students would receive the equivalent of their state's four-year public college tuition in exchange for two years of service. He also suggested creating a high school service requirement that would make every student complete some community service to graduate, with states designing the programs. Kerry also proposed an expansion of the Peace Corps program." To read the article, go to: Kerry and Community Service.

  - The New Dem Daily's "Kerry's Call to Service" states "All in all, the Kerry proposal sets a new high standard for expansion of national service opportunities. His speech also helps make it clear that a willingness to give something back to the country is and should be recognized as an important distinction in American politics. As Kerry says, Americans "think elected officials no longer ask them to serve a cause greater than themselves. They think their leaders have given up on balancing rights with responsibilities. They think that our political debates too often descend into combat between entitlement and abandonment, between 'something for nothing' and 'every man for himself.' And they're right. Americans deserve a government that has as much faith in the ideals of America as they do." To read this article, go to: http://www.ndol.org/ndol_ci.cfm?contentid=251707&kaid=131&subid=192

• The Pew Charitable Trust has added the following article on youth engagement to its website: "Political Generation Next: Young, Ambitious, and a Lot Like Their Elders" (05/14/2003) Rutgers' Eagleton Institute Conducts First National Study of Pols 35 and Under. To read the article go to: http://www.pewtrusts.com
  

  May 22, 2003

• The National High School Mock Trial Championship has been awarded this month's CivicMind Award for outstanding programs that energize civic participation and improve education about government and the legal system. The program is an annual competition in which students learn about the legal system and current legal issues by participating in a simulated trial with the assistance of their teachers and lawyer-coaches from a local bar association. For more information go to
  http://www.civicmind.com/wmock.htm
  

• The Dirksen Center is offering a number of interesting features on the work of Congressional Committees:

  - To learn more about the work that Congressional Committees - where bills are sent after they are introduced, hearings are held, and the first votes on proposed laws are taken. As well as resources to help students examine the role that congressional committees play in the legislative process of the U.S. Congress. Go to http://www.webcommunicator.org

  - To find out what American political scientist Charles O. Jones identifies as the ten most important points that a high school student should know about Congress go to "What Every Student Should Know About Congress" at: http://www.congresslink.org/actfour.html#Item%207

  - To learn more about the four different types of congressional committees, (1) standing, (2) select, (3) joint, and (4) conference. Visit AboutGovernment to learn more about the structure of the committee system. Find "Committee Types and Roles" at: http://www.aboutgovernment.org/legislativebranch.htm

  - To learn about the official legislative process, when a bill or resolution is numbered and is referred to a committee and to help your students understand how our laws are made including committee action. Go to "How Our Laws Are Made: Short Version" at:
  http://www.congresslink.org/lawsshort.html
  

  May 15, 2003

• The League of Women Voters has signed an agreement to work with Capitol Advantage to present online election and campaign information in 2004. Through this exciting new partnership, the election content collected by DNet's nationwide network of volunteers will be incorporated into Capitol Advantage's congress.org site and distributed through their Internet media clients. I believe the integration of these two successful programs will provide citizens with unprecedented access to in-depth nonpartisan election coverage. I hope you're as excited as I am to see what Capitol Advantage and the League of Women Voters can accomplish in 2004 and beyond!

  To read the recent announcement about the agreement go to LWV article. If you have any questions please contact program director Jackie Mildner at jmildner@lwv.org.
  

• The Dirksen Center has awarded its work for a featured project is a Congressional Research Award to Eric Hines from the University of Iowa. This study, "Strategic Appointments to Conference Committees in the U.S. Congress," examines conferee selection to find the conditions under which party leaders make strategic appointments to conference committees. Learn more about this project and others at: http://www.dirksencenter.org/grantcongresearchaward.htm#Grntrecipient00

  May 14, 2003

• Civic Education EDU 907N (Graduate Level Course with 3 credit hours) will be held August 11-15 at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. The purpose of this weeklong summer workshop is to provide participants with the intellectual and pedagogical tools necessary for preparing competent, caring and democratic citizens in the K-12 environment. Workshop activities include presentations, small group discussions and the use of information technology. After completing the workshop, participants will be able to design and organize hands-on activities in the classroom; construct their own visions of citizenship and corresponding rationale for fostering students' civic competencies; design units and lesson plans integrating content knowledge in language arts, social studies, science, mathematics, information technology and civic education concepts; delineate the core concepts of American democracy through analysis of the essential historical documents, including the Constitution and Declaration of Independence; and have the competence to access and utilize the resources offered by public and private organizations specializing in civic education.

  This course will serve the educational needs of in-service elementary and secondary school teachers in all subject areas; pre-service elementary and secondary school teachers in all subject areas; elementary school administrators; secondary school administrators; district curriculum specialists; and social studies teachers and coordinators. For additional information please contact Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad at 516) 299-2841 or iahmad@Liu.edu
  

  May 13, 2003

• In recent interview with Bruce Cole, Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, NACE member Joe Phelan discussed among other topics the "We The People" initiative. To read the entire interview, go to: http://www.claremont.org/writings/030502phelan.html

• The Pew Charitable Trust has added the following three new articles on youth engagement to its website:

  - "Making Citizens Out of Students" (05/07/2003) A commentary in Education Week.
  - "Ohio Lawmaker Is Dean Of Kiddie Caucus" (05/08/2003) An article by stateline.org on young politicians.
  - "Web Antidote for Political Apathy" (05/05/2003) New BBC project helps citizens organize.

  To read the articles go to: http://www.pewtrusts.com
  

May 12, 2003

• Innovations in Civic Participation (ICP) is looking for a new Program Assistant to support ICP's project work and the Executive Director. The main responsibilities for this position include program support work, administrative support work, supporting ICP's information infrastructure, and running ICP's internship program. They are interested in filling this position by the end of May. To be considered for this position, please send your resume, cover letter and a short writing sample to Susan Stroud, Executive Director of ICP. You can reach Susan by e-mail at stroud@icicp.org or by fax at 202-833-8581. For more information go to http://www.icicp.org/index.htm or call 202-775-0290.

  May 9, 2003

• The recent article, "Teachers fear social studies is becoming history" by Mike Bowler, for The Baltimore Sun, indicates that many teachers and education officials in Maryland fear that history and the other social studies are on the public school chopping block - just when students urgently need to understand American and world history, government, civics, economics and geography. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), they say, requires yearly testing in math, reading and (beginning in 2005) science. Left out by Congress was testing in social studies. State plans for NCLB aren't due until October, but a Maryland Humanities Council survey found several districts already shifting class time from social studies to math and reading. To read the entire article, go to http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-md.history06may06.story

  May 8, 2003

• The recent article "Young and Involved" by Tania deLuzuiaga for the Orlando Sentinel, describes how Americans under 25 are making a difference in their communities. More than 21,000 youths and adults volunteered for Hands On Orlando part of National Youth Service Day sponsored by Youth Service America. Steve Culbertson, president of Youth Service America, which has over 72 million youth participants, indicates "Youth are the hope of today, not tomorrow. They have incredible assets: energy, idealism and creativity." To read the entire story, go to: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/

  May 7, 2003

• The recent article "Students Turn For A Change: High School Students Nationwide Speak Out On Issues That Matter Most To Them" is now on The Pew Charitable Trust website. The article discusses the results of the Project 540 national study of over 135,000 high school students across the country about issues that matter most to them in their schools, communities, nation and the world. To read the entire article, go to http://www.pewtrusts.com/. To find out more about Project 540 and the survey go to http://www.project540.org/main.cfm

  May 6, 2003

• The recent WireTap article, "Mobilizing the Hip-Hop Generation" by Jesse Alejandro Cotrell, describes how youth organizers are reclaiming hip-hop as a form of political activism. Fed up with the way hip-hop has become a marketing tool by corporate executives to lure youth to materialism, these activists are emphasizing the way the medium can be used for social change by philanthropists and foundations. To read the article go to http://www.wiretapmag.org/story.html?StoryID=15691

  May 5 , 2003

• The National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC) is pleased to announce the release of three additional briefs on service-learning, social and emotional learning and Peace Games. These complement other policy and issue briefs developed by the NCLC focusing on citizenship education and service-learning.

  - Building Community Through Service-Learning: The Role of Community Partner. This paper highlights effective strategies for service-learning partnerships, using "best-practice" examples to illustrate potential impact. The paper's focus is on school-based, as distinct from community-based, service-learning. A number of the strategic recommendations presented in this paper, however, especially those dealing with changes within the organization or agency itself, may be applicable to both situations. This issue paper is designed especially with the community partner in mind.

  - Making the Case for Social and Emotional Learning and Service-Learning. This issue brief provides an overview and description of both social and emotional learning (SEL) and service-learning (S-L) as tools to improve the lives and academic performance of students. It describes how the two practices are interrelated and the research evidence that supports the expanded use of both practices in the classroom. Also provided are descriptions of the essential elements required of successful SEL and S-L programs, examples of such successful programs that are in existence today and a discussion of state activities and experiences. This brief represents the first step of a new partnership of three prominent national organizations - the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Leaning (CASEL), the National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC), and the Laboratory for Student Success (LSS).

  - Civic Engagement and Service-Learning with Young Children: Intergenerational Peacemaking Projects. Peace Games builds on a 10-week core curriculum that focuses on communication, cooperation, conflict resolution and engagement. Teaching teams help students plan and implement service-learning activities called "Peacemaker Projects." This paper outlines some of these projects, describes benefits of this approach for elementary school students and young adult volunteers and suggests some basic principles and guidelines for developing and implementing successful Peacemaker Projects.

  For more information go to: http://www.ecs.org/html/projectsPartners/clc/clc_main.htm
  

• The New York Times Learning Network Lesson Plan, developed in partnership with The Bank Street College of Education in New York City, presents " Changing of the Guard: Examining the Role of the United States in Democratic Transitions Around the World." In this one hour lesson plan, based on The New York Times article "Building Democracy is Not a Science" by Tom Zeller, students research case studies of U.S.-led regime changes around the world. They then examine the possible future democratization of Iraq through the historical lens of past experience.. For the complete lesson plan, as well as other information on the site see http://www.nytimes.com/learning/. To read the article, go to http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20030428monday.html

  May 1, 2003

• The recent article, "Hall Pass to the Voting Booth" by Laura Sessions Stepp for The Washington Post, describes a Project 540 program Students Turn for a Change that has transformed Morrisville Middle-Senior High school in Pennsylvania. The article investigates the issue of declining youth voter participation and how the program is helping to build student confidence, participation and leadership. Sparked by a new principal who recognized the value of the Project 540, students were trusted with greater leadership roles to change their school and community. They identified school and community problems, mapped solutions, and presented solutions at a public hearing. To read the entire article go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57292-2003Apr29.html

• The W. K. Kellogg Foundation has awarded a signature 75th anniversary grant to the National Service-Learning Partnership, at the Academy for Educational Development, to establish a new Youth Innovation Fund for Youth-Directed Civic Action. The Youth Fund's primary purpose is to support young people, working in partnership with community institutions, to create innovations that address public issues and problems using a service-learning framework.

  The new Youth Fund will select eight "model sites" across the country through a competitive Request for Proposal process. Each site, covering a geographic area contiguous with a city, county, municipality, or school district, will consist of a new or existing youth-led philanthropy board, working collaboratively with a new or existing local consortium of three or four organizations. Each youth board will make strategic grants to support innovative civic action projects chosen and carried out by young people between the ages of 12-19. Youth boards will also create local impact plans to sustain the long-term success of youth-directed civic action.

  All aspects of the Youth Fund's design and implementation involve a wide range of young people, particularly those from traditionally under-represented communities. The Youth Fund will be guided by an Advisory Council of eight young people and seven adults representing an array of institutional affiliations and areas of experience.

  The Youth Fund's RFP is available on the Partnership's web site http://www.service-learningpartnership.org/ . For further information, contact, Kenny Holdsman, Director of the Youth Innovation Fund, at kholdsma@aed.org or Jason Cuevas, Youth Liaison, at 212-367-4601.