Earlier this month, Facing History & Ourselves was deeply proud to participate in Civic Learning Week—a nationwide effort to highlight the importance of civic education by uniting students, teachers, policymakers, and leaders for a week spent raising awareness and learning together. Prioritizing the creation of positive and inclusive learning environments as well as integrating student voices, this celebration couldn’t have happened without the hard work and participation of thousands of schools and peer organizations. As we work to expand our civic learning resources and continue to support teachers in tumultuous times, we’re grateful to have spent the week connecting with so many others striving to strengthen democracy and build a sense of informed responsibility and engagement in the next generation.
A few standout moments from Civic Learning Week included:
Virtual Events
The Civic Learning Week Resource slam workshop with CivXNow on March 10 was a great success and a perfect way to kick off the week! 239 attendees had the chance to meet and connect, exploring resources and teaching tools to better understand ways to integrate civic learning into their classrooms. Our Facing History presenters featured our Fostering Civil Discourse guide alongside PBS’s Civics Collection, iCivics’ Civic Digital Literacy resources, the Center for Civic Education’s Project Community resource, SRVCE’s Civics Project Planner, and KQED’s Youth Media Challenge.
On March 11, KQED joined Facing History for a workshop titled "Bringing Student Civic Learning & Reflection to Life with Infographics." 212 educators participated in a rich discussion on how research skills and visual design can help students better express themselves and get excited about civic learning. Facing History helped participants explore the concepts of agency and civic responsibility, as well as ways to research a topic that students choose. KQED then guided participants through how to make infographics that will help students communicate their ideas, concepts, and data about an issue they care about.
In-Person Events
On March 13, Facing History & Ourselves was at the Hoover Institution in Stanford, CA for the Civic Learning Week National Forum. Entitled "Civic Learning: Many Voices, One Nation," this national summit was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, make in-person connections, and participate in fascinating conversations with fellow educators, leaders, and policymakers from across the country.
One of our favorites was “Making the Case for Pluralistic Civic Learning,” moderated by iCivics CEO Louise Dubé. This compelling panel discussed what it means to live together and co-exist in a diverse society, one that must embrace process and imperfection in order to achieve the "more perfect" union that our nation's founders envisioned. Our work must not just be about helping students regain their trust in democracy and civic institutions, but to truly empower the next generation to critique and push our political system and institutions to do and be better.
Another highlight was a student-focused panel called “What Youth and Young Adults Gain From and Contribute To Civic Learning—In Their Own Words,” moderated by Rajiv Vinnakota, President of the Institute for Citizens & Scholars. As civics educators, we spend so much time trying to imagine how best to reach students in the ways they need and want to be reached—it was especially inspiring to hear directly from young people about how they see the world and envision the future of democracy.
Civic Learning Week In the News
We were excited to see Civic Learning Week making headlines and having a real, tangible impact on national discourse. At The Hechinger Report, CivxNow coalition director Shawn Healy advocated for a resurgence of national pride through greater emphasis on civics education.
A new episode of the Civics 101 podcast was released featuring Emma Humphries—Chief Education Officer at iCivics—that reflected on Civic Learning Week, discussed the state of public education, and centered student voices on issues including mental health and harm reduction. In the podcast, you will also hear youth voices via KQED’s Youth Media Challenge platform and practical advice on how students can make a change from Alameda County Board of Education Trustee Cheryl Cook-Kallio.
At EdNC, two North Carolina high school students made a case for investing in civic literacy education and highlighted the importance of working together for the common good. During Civic Learning Week, a group of NC students also led a forum with the state's top K-12 education decision-makers to discuss the importance of supporting and investing in civic literacy, leadership, and civic education for all students in North Carolina.
Civic Education, Democracy, & Lessons from History Workshop
Civic Education, Democracy, & Lessons from History Workshop
Upcoming Professional Development
As educators know well, the hard work of strengthening democracy never stops. Whether you attended a Civic Learning Week event in person, participated from afar, or are just now learning about it, you might be wondering what comes next.
Among other professional development opportunities, we're pleased to offer a Civic Education, Democracy, & Lessons from History workshop on July 23 and 24. These facilitated virtual sessions are designed for educators teaching grades 6-12 and will feature our Fostering Civil Discourse guide as well as our newly-updated Choices In Little Rock unit, providing attendees with tools that empower students to critically examine civic life, find connections between their own lives and history, and navigate crucial conversations about difficult topics. We urge you to learn more and register today—teachers from IL, MA, NY, or TX may even be eligible for professional development credit.
