Social Studies gone soft on Civics

PS, the journal of the American Political Science Association had an article this April on the decline of civics education in the public schools. Hat Tip to Wilson Quarterly, which does a nice round up of interesting pieces. I'll focus on a part of the problem which is often featured here, contentious ideological conflict by those setting the agenda. When Social Reconstructionists want to present a radical critique of American political and social institutions, traditionalists recoil and want it stopped. When Perennialists want to explain and defend the establishment, the left cries foul and tries to push the kind of unpopular critique that I have mentioned. The end result is no civics education. There are two issues here, academic inquiry and parental control of the message presented to their kids.

Intellectual honesty requires that that teachers teach all substantive arguments, not just the ones they like or that are popular in the community. Teacher's don't need to teach them all equally, they just need to give them a fair hearing. Parents, the administration, and others in the community have greater tolerance for a teacher who is fair, even if some material is not their cup of tea. When things get ugly is when the teacher is both out of step and unfair.

In a public school system, parents are also voters and taxpayers, so ultimately they govern. Thumb your nose at them and they may well come back hard with cuts in funding, targeted funding, or regulations and legislation. They are the consumers acting for their children. If teachers and schools attempt to usurp that authority they risk confronting the parent's much greater political power.

The solution is a civics program that is based on the wants and desires of the parents and community with substantial consideration of alternative views. Consideration needs to be limited by good method and respect for evidence. Students who know how to apply good social science methods and have a respect for evidence will have a robust commitment to good ideas and a resistance to bad ones.