Building Better Citizens

A New Civics Education for All

Holly Korbey

Educating for citizenship was the original mission of American schools, but for decades that knowledge—also known as civics education—has been in decline, as schools have shifted focus to college and career, STEM, and raising reading and math scores. But over the last few years, spurred on by political polarization and a steep decline in public understanding, civics education is seeing a nation-wide resurgence, as school leaders, educators, and parents recognize the urgency of teaching young people how America works—especially young people who have been marginalized from the political system.

But this isn’t your grandmother’s civics. The “new” civics has been updated and re-tooled for the phone-addicted, multi-cultural, globalized twenty-first century kid. From combatting “fake news” with fact checking in Silicon Valley, to reviving elementary school social studies in Nashville, to learning civic activism in Oklahoma City, journalist Holly Korbey documents the grassroots revival happening across the country. Along the way, she provides an essential guidebook for educators, school leaders and caregivers of all types who want to educate a new generation of engaged citizens at a critical time in American democracy.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 176 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9

978-1-4758-4344-6 • Hardback • October 2019 • $77.00 • (£59.00)

978-1-4758-5300-1 • Paperback • October 2019 • $39.00 • (£30.00)

978-1-4758-4345-3 • eBook • October 2019 • $37.00 • (£30.00)

Subjects: Education / Behavioral Management, Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, Family & Relationships / Education, Education / Current Issues

Building Better Citizens

A New Civics Education for All

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Educating for citizenship was the original mission of American schools, but for decades that knowledge—also known as civics education—has been in decline, as schools have shifted focus to college and career, STEM, and raising reading and math scores. But over the last few years, spurred on by political polarization and a steep decline in public understanding, civics education is seeing a nation-wide resurgence, as school leaders, educators, and parents recognize the urgency of teaching young people how America works—especially young people who have been marginalized from the political system.

But this isn’t your grandmother’s civics. The “new” civics has been updated and re-tooled for the phone-addicted, multi-cultural, globalized twenty-first century kid. From combatting “fake news” with fact checking in Silicon Valley, to reviving elementary school social studies in Nashville, to learning civic activism in Oklahoma City, journalist Holly Korbey documents the grassroots revival happening across the country. Along the way, she provides an essential guidebook for educators, school leaders and caregivers of all types who want to educate a new generation of engaged citizens at a critical time in American democracy.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 176 • Trim: 6⅜ x 9

978-1-4758-4344-6 • Hardback • October 2019 • $77.00 • (£59.00)

978-1-4758-5300-1 • Paperback • October 2019 • $39.00 • (£30.00)

978-1-4758-4345-3 • eBook • October 2019 • $37.00 • (£30.00)

Subjects: Education / Behavioral Management, Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, Family & Relationships / Education, Education / Current Issues

Author

Holly Korbey is an education and parenting journalist who writes about teaching and learning for a national audience. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, KQED MindShift, Edutopia and others. Follow her on Twitter at @HKorbey.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction: Is Democracy at Risk?

Chapter 1: Rise of the Twenty-First Century Citizen: For Today’s Young People, a New Civics

Chapter 2: Nurseries of a Free Republic: The Critical Role Schools Play in Teaching

New Civics Innovator: Seth Andrew, Democracy Prep, and the Civic Success Sequence

Chapter 3: A Tree without Roots: Repairing the History Knowledge Gap

New Civics Innovator: iCivics: Engaging the Twenty-First Century Kid with Video Games

Chapter 4: The Value of Virtue: Raising Citizens With Character

New Civics Innovator: Jack Bradley, “The Rosa Parks of Special Needs Students”

Chapter 5: Together We Can Do So Much: Revitalizing Communities for the Twenty-first Century

New Civics Innovators: The Young Voices in Newburgh, Indiana

Chapter 6: A Vaccine Against Fake News: Using Less Critical Thinking—Not More—to Protect Against Misinformation

New Civics Innovator: The Accidental Activist

Chapter 7: Learning How to Talk and Listen: Civil Discourse in a Polarized Age

Chapter 8: The Future’s Citizen: Can Action Civics Create a More Equitable Democracy?

Notes

Index

About the Author

Reviews

Building Better Citizens is the education book for our time. Well-researched and filled with inspiring examples of what young people and adults are doing to revive our democratic processes, Korbey’s book concisely explains why civics has disappeared from our schools and what 21st century citizenship education looks like. For anyone concerned about the future of our Republic, this is a must-read book.
— Tony Wagner, best-selling author of “The Global Achievement Gap” and “Creating Innovators”

A superb, must-read book for all who care about the future of our Republic. Korbey shows the recent innovations in civics that make the subject come alive and hold student interest. Building Better Citizens will help the 21st Century reader understand how to live up to Benjamin Franklin's famous charge to 'keep our Republic!'
— Ted McConnell, executive director, Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools

After clarifying what is at stake for our democracy if we allow our schools to abandon civics, Korbey's carefully researched account will inspire you with what is possible by highlighting diverse examples of young people who are passionately diving into civic life. At a time when political divisions can feel insurmountable, this book's account of new approaches to civics education offers a roadmap for the path forward.
— Devorah Heitner, PhD, Author of Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive and Survive in Their Digital World and Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World

In this powerful and essential book, Korbey offers deep insight into education’s foundational role in preserving a healthy democracy. Building Better Citizens helps us make sense of the current plight of America’s democracy, and inspires us with examples of a renaissance of civics education and youth engagement spreading across the nation. Become a better citizen by reading Building Better Citizens!
— Ted Dintersmith, author, "What School Could Be" and "Most Likely to Succeed"

Features

2/20/24, Youth Today: Korbev penned an article articulating the lack of support in elementary school math programs. The book is mentioned in the byline.
Link: https://youthtoday.org/2024/02/reading-supports-abound-schools-effective-math-help-much-harder-find/

Building Better Citizens

A New Civics Education for All

Holly Korbey

Building Better Citizens

A New Civics Education for All

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