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Civic Education
By Jim Dillard
The Virginia Commission on Civic
Education was established by the General
Assembly in 2005. Its goal is to prepare
students to be active citizens and to give
them the tools necessary to be effective
participants in our society.
One of the Commission’s first
projects was to establish an annual teacher
conference that is held each fall in the
Virginia Capitol. Approximately 100 to
120 teachers attend this conference every
November. Each year there is a different
theme, such as, the “executive branch” or “legislative branch”
and presentations on classroom activities such as helping teachers
provide ways for practical civic engagement by students. Each
conference provides teachers with materials and introductions to
resources that promote civic learning.
In 2009 the Commission helped rewrite Virginia’s Social
Studies Standards of Learning that provide requirements for
the teaching of social studies in grades K-12. More recently
the Commission is helping define and incorporate elements of
authentic service learning in the state’s Standards of Accreditation
to ensure that schools foster civic responsibility and learning and
pursue academic excellence and continuous improvement while
preparing their students for success in society.
A working subcommittee, a smaller group of six to eight
former Social Studies teachers, Social Studies supervisors and
representatives from public service organizations, performs much
of the Commission’s significant work. To emphasize inquiry,
critical thinking skills and a political science approach to learning,
the subcommittee revised the state Standards of Learning’s skills
required for Virginia and US Government and Civics.
A major concern of the Commission’s subcommittee has been
the de-emphasis of Social Studies in the school curriculum. We
have seen both Social Studies and Science pushed aside as school
divisions concentrated on Math and English. There has been
much talk of preparing students for college and career without
the mention of preparing our students to be active participants
in our society. For the past two years, whenever college and
career goals were discussed in Board meetings I would add that
civic readiness should be included as equally important as career
and college readiness. The Board members would nod heads in
agreement and then go on to other items. During the June 2017
meeting of the Board, I, again, raised the issue of the importance
of civic readiness. At this point a fellow Board member agreed and
citizenship readiness was added as a key factor in the Profile of a
Virginia Graduate.
At the same meeting, a major breakthrough for civic learning
was established as citizenship readiness was added as a component
of school accreditation. The Department of Education adopted the
subcommittee’s definition of service learning that will be used to
determine if a school has met the requirement that their students be
“citizenship ready.”
The Commission’s mandate was renewed during the 2017
session of the Virginia General Assembly. It is comprised of
legislators and educators whose shared mission is to strengthen best
practices in civic learning. Members of the Commission worked
with the Department of Education to revise the 2015 History and
Social Science Standards of Learning with a focus on the middle
school Civics and Economics course and the high school Virginia
and United States Government course— long a credit required
for graduation. The Commission works to give teachers online
resources that provide evidence-based instructional strategies. The
Commission wrote model policies that defined how current and
controversial issues can best be addressed in the classroom and
how political campaigns can enhance civic understanding.
The Commission has worked with the DOE in professional
development settings across the Commonwealth to illustrate how
civic content knowledge and skills can be the focus of K-12 Social
Studies.
As discussion continues to unfold at the state level, the
Virginia Board of Education has chosen to reiterate the importance
of this historic mission of public education. Citizenship readiness
is explicit in the Standards of Accreditation—co-equal with the
emphasis on preparation for college and career. The Board is in the
process of redesigning the Standards of Accreditation for schools
and also developing a Profile of a Virginia Graduate. As a former
state legislator I introduced legislation to establish of the Virginia
Commission on Civic Education. As a member of the Board of
Education and the Commission I act as a liaison between the two
groups. In developing the Profiles of a Virginia Graduate, the
Board established four domains: Content Knowledge; Workplace
Skills; Community Engagement and Civic Responsibility; and
Career Exploration. These domains were for discussion and
guidance, but were not part of the actual profile. The subcommittee
of the Commission felt that the Community Engagement and Civic
Responsibility section was too weak. The working group rewrote
the domain for civics and presented it to the Board. While not
officially adopted by the Board, the Department of Education will
be incorporating the stronger language in the new Profile in the
Standards of Accreditation.
The Commissions working group also pointed out to the Board
that its goals did not include preparing students to be effective
participants in our democratic process. Preparing students to be
“citizenship ready” is now a goal the Board. The work of the
Commission’s working group is largely responsible for bringing
about these significant inclusions of civic readiness in the Board’s
view of educational outcomes and the recognition of the importance
of civic education.
As education leaders and policymakers continue to discuss
how best public education can be advanced in the Commonwealth,
those who advocate on behalf of the essential role of civic education
should have a place at the table. The current discussion at the
state level focuses on revisions to the Standards for Accrediting
Public Schools. In this context, the Commission, working with the
Department of Education and the Board, promotes civic education
policy. A focus on community engagement and civic responsibility
makes explicit civic learning connections; reflects the content
knowledge, skills and dispositions citizenship readiness requires;
and emphasizes inquiry-based instruction, informed action, and
application to real-world civic issues.
The Commission is up for reauthorization this session. Civic
Leaders in Virginia feel the work of the Commission is critical and
want the Commission to continue as a separate Commission and
not merged with another group.
Dillard received his BA History, W&M, MA Political Science
American University Married 62 years to HS sweetheart, Joyce,
four daughters,Teacher and principal Fairfax Co. 30 years, House
of Delegates 32 years, Board of Education presently serving.
Worldwide big boat sailor and small boat racer, Antique car
owner, woodworker and carver.
V