RAELYNNE SNYDERBALTIMORE, MARYLAND

USA

BARBARA HAIRFIELDCHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

USA

Civics Education: A Call to Teach

My name is RaeLynne.

I came from the city of Baltimore.

Baltimore in winter.

Baltimore is famous for:

Barbara and Teachers

We are from the city of Charleston.

It is in the state of South Carolina.

Charleston is famous for:

Shrimp and Grits

Sweetgrass Baskets

Charleston is Famous for…

Why Civics? Why Now?

Purpose of Civics Education is to develop responsible, informed, and engaged citizens that will participate actively to support and maintain a democratic form of government.

Why should it be taught, Where should it be taught, When should it be taught, and Who should be

responsible for teaching it?

Civics Education in United States – What is happening? (marginalization of the curriculum)

Quest for Civil/Human Rights

1776 – Revolutionary War for Independence from Great Britain to ensure rights – Thomas Jefferson wrote in the Constitution “ALL men are created equal endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights…)

1860s – Civil War in United States (slavery –rights of the people or states’ rights?)

1960s –Civil Rights Movement – 100 years after the Civil War, many citizens were still not receiving equal treatment - denial of their civil and human rights (video)

What is a Citizen?

Citizen - a person who legally belongs to a country and has the rights and

protection of that country

What type of citizen does a democracy need to sustain itself?

What is a Good Citizen?

Definition -- A good citizen is someone who respects others and their property, obeys the rules and works for the common good.

3 Types of Good Citizens 1 Personally Responsible Citizen2 Participatory Citizen3 Justice Oriented Citizen

How Are They Different?

A personally responsible citizen takes care of his or her own business.

A participatory citizen organizes and often serves as a leader for community activities.

A justice oriented citizen looks critically at the root causes of problems in a community.

Personally Responsible Citizen

Participatory Citizen

Justice Oriented Citizen

The Citizenship and Immigration Services defines the Responsibilities of U.S. Citizenship

Gives up loyalty to other countries

Defends the U.S. Constitution

Obeys the laws of the United States

Serves in the U.S. military (if needed)

Supports efforts for the “common good”

Demonstrates loyalty to the United States

U.S. Constitution

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

defines American citizenship. “Citizenship gives a

person certain rights and privileges under the U.S.

Constitution and U.S. law.”

What type of citizen is best?

Each person should know how to act as each of the three kinds of citizen

Most people are usually primarily one kind of citizen.

Teaching Activity on Citizenship

Citizenship for a New Society

Background Information

Your country is planning to establish a colony on the moon. This lunar colony requires a group of people with skills to handle many different scientific, technical and social skills. The government Space Agency feels confident about the technology and science skills to settle on the moon, and they have selected a qualified group of candidates.

However, the government has asked you to serve on a special committee to decide the what kind of citizens should be sent to settle on the moon.

Directions to Students

A total of 1,000 settlers will be chosen for the first settlement. Your committee must decide on the right type of citizens to send – personally responsible, participatory and justice oriented.

How many of each type will your committee choose?

Explain why you picked the numbers of each kind of citizen. (Which type did you select the most? Which type was needed the least?

Personally Responsible

Little Rock Nine - 1957

Ruby Bridges - 1960

Children’s March - 1963

Martin Luther King Jr. (killed 1968)

What Happens When Governments Fail?

Nuerenberg Laws Marriages between Jews and Aryans are

forbidden All persons of Jewish descent must wear a

yellow star to identify themselves Jews are forbidden to display the German flag Jews are not allowed to publish editorials in

the newspaper Jews are not allowed to practice law

Jim Crowe Laws (laws against civil rights of black citizens)

Marriages between a white person and a negro are forbidden

No “colored” person is allowed to serve as a barber (cut hair) for white girl or woman

All businesses must have separate toilets for whites and negroes

Negroes “coloreds” must sit in the back of a bus and also give up their seat if a white does not have a seat

Any instructor who teaches in a school with white and colored students will be arrested and fired

1940s - Poland 1960s - USA

Violations of Rights of CitizensTHEN…

What Happens When Societies Fail?

People take action…

Is preparation for civic life important?

Started at 16:00 Through the night…

and Now…Baltimore Uprising – April 2015

United States - 1954 Ukraine - 2014

Man’s Injustice to Man

Why Must We Teach Civics Education?

People / Citizens/ Students must have the knowledge and skills to be

able to:1. identify problems 2. know how to take proper civic

actions (legally)3. maintain a democratic society

Gunman and Victims Citizens React -Forgiveness

Charleston Church shootings – June 2015

Where We Start?

A first step is being able to hold conversations with our students regarding difficult issues – including some in which the wounds are still not healed.

We need to prepare our students to have the knowledge and skills to be good citizens, not just in Baltimore or Charleston or Maidan, but to act with resolve and respect as members in a global society.

Next Steps – A Call to Action

United States Office of Immigration and Naturalization – regulates entry numbers

“Nation of Immigrants” - Statue of Liberty – Does the U.S. still welcome all who come to our shores?

Citizenship requirements for immigrants… Requirements of natural citizens… Government actions: South Carolina - James B. Edwards Civic Education

Initiative