Teaching America: The Case for Civic Education [Hardcover]

David J. Feith (Author), Evan H. Daar (Contributor), Seth Andrew (Contributor), Charles F. Bahmueller (Contributor), Mark Bauerlein (Contributor), John M. Bridgeland (Contributor), Bruce Cole (Contributor), Alan M. Dershowitz (Contributor), Mike Feinberg (Contributor), Senator Bob Graham (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2011 | ISBN-10: 1607098407 | ISBN-13: 978-1607098409

In Teaching America, more than 20 leading thinkers sound the alarm over a crisis in citizenship—and lay out a powerful agenda for reform. The book’s unprecedented roster of authors includes Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Senator Jon Kyl, Senator Bob Graham, Secretary Rod Paige, Alan Dershowitz, Juan Williams, Glenn Reynolds, Michael Kazin, Frederick Hess, Andrew Rotherham, Mike Feinberg, Seth Andrew, Mark Bauerlein and more.

Their message: To remain America, our country has to give its kids a civic identity, an understanding of our constitutional system, and some appreciation of the amazing achievements of American self-government. But we are failing. Young Americans know little about the Bill of Rights, the democratic process, or the civil rights movement. Three of every four high school seniors aren’t proficient in civics, nine of ten can’t cut it in U.S. history, and the problem is only aggravated by universities' disregard for civic education. Such civic illiteracy weakens our common culture, disenfranchises would-be voters, and helps poison our politics.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The American experiment in self-governance relies on a citizenry conversant in American history and government process. Feith (assistant editorial features editor, Wall Street Journal) and his knowledgeable group of contributors-public officials, law and education scholars, and educators-sound the alarm with impressive clarity about the current state of American civic literacy. Their case is straightforward and without divisive rhetoric. The included essays explore the historical place of civic literacy within the American education system, look at current and past government programs intended to effect civic literacy, present snapshots of existing civic-education programs in K-12 and higher education, and consider options for the future. Verdict A well-documented case for civic-education reform articulated by policymakers, lawyers, educators, and academics who share their expertise and involvement with government programs and relevant curricula. This collection is distinctive for its breadth of coverage and the first-hand expertise and knowledge of its contributors. Highly recommended for students in education and teacher preparation. (Library Journal 20111004)

David Feith, an assistant editorial features editor at the Wall Street Journal and twice recipient of the Robert L. Bartley Fellow at the Wall Street Journal, has brought together an esteemed group of seminal thinkers. These men and women substantially hold to the tenet that America has to give its children a sense of civic identity along with a fundamental understanding of our American constitutional system. The essays collected by Feith address several significant issues, including the democratic purpose of education, assimilation, leadership, civil liberties in the digital age, and indoctrination—all of which are of major concern. The mixture presents a whirlwind—no, a cyclonic vortex—of exemplary thought by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Juan Williams, Alan M. Dershowitz, Senators Jon Kyl and Bob Graham, Admiral Mike Ratliff, and Peter Levine—22 in all. Levine’s comment in his “Letter to President Obama” should make everyone stop and take notice....But Glenn Harlan Reynolds’s closing statement in the preceding essay, “Education vs. Indoctrination” is the real clincher. (New York Journal of Books )

The past is critical to the future—a commonplace observation that would not be notable if the findings in this important book had turned out differently. As it is, Teaching America chronicles the nation’s civics deficit, arguing eloquently and sensibly for a renewed commitment to education about public life... This book and this project are excellent places to begin.

(Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian )

We need to heed the voices in this essential book. If America is going to continue to be a powerful force for good in the world, we must repair our public education system and cultivate citizens that have the tools and ideals necessary to ensure the success of our great experiment in democracy. Teaching America tells us how.

(Geoffrey Canada, president and CEO, Harlem Children's Zone )

The greatest threat to the future of American democracy is our failure to educate every child. In Newark and cities across this country, the problems described in Teaching America are plain to see: inadequate civic education has left many students on the margins of our democracy, unable to benefit from or contribute to its wealth and growth. Fortunately, Teaching America offers a vital blueprint for how public leaders, educators, and parents can empower our students, help them realize their genius, and strengthen our nation. (Cory Booker, mayor of Newark )

It's hard to think of a more important subject than the one this book tackles with such clarity, power, and creativity: how to preserve American history so that all we've been, and all we mean to be, will continue to hold us together as a nation. A generation ago, President Reagan warned of 'an eradication of the American memory that could result, ultimately, in an erosion of the American spirit.' This book both reflects and adds fresh documentation to that warning. And its great contribution is that it offers some bracing suggestions on what to do about it. (Peggy Noonan, Wall Street Journal columnist and former speechwriter for President Reagan )

About the Author

David Feith is an assistant editorial features editor at The Wall Street Journal and directs the Civic Education Initiative.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: R&L Education (August 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607098407
• ISBN-13: 978-1607098409
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 0.8 x 9.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,214,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Feith is an assistant editorial features editor at The Wall Street Journal, where he edits op-eds and writes mainly about education reform and foreign policy. He was twice a Robert L. Bartley Fellow at The Journal and later worked as an assistant editor at Foreign Affairs magazine. Feith chairs the Civic Education Initiative, which he co-founded while in college to promote a national agenda for strengthening civic knowledge.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent primer on the politics and policy of civic education September 12, 2011

By Robert Costa

Format:Paperback

Finished this over the weekend. It's a great, thoughtful compilation, edited by a rising writer and civics leader. Feith ably balances the various views and takes, presenting a comprehensive volume that's of interest, I'd say, to both academics and a general audience. Pick it up.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Civics are important but the book leaves out critical issues December 29, 2011

By Frank T. Manheim

Format:Hardcover

No reasonable person could quarrel with the idea that future citizens of the nation need to know its history and the principles and structure of government. The book's contributors include a balanced, throughful set of experts, led off by Sandra Day O'Connor. Having served as an often-praised Supreme Court Justice, she shows her own commitment to society by her active post-retirement efforts to promote good governance.

But I suggest that the book has three critical gaps - besides the lack of a table of contents cited by the lowball reviewer. Without covering these essential areas the book - despite its thoughtful essays - probably won't offer an effective guide to get us to where the authors want us to go. Consider this. The query for "books, U.S. educational policy" in Google Scholar yields 2,590,000 scholarly titles! These are not just book titles - they include reviews, etc. But we've got plenty of talk and not much balanced action.

1 ) Before the 1960s high school curricula throughout the nation included civics. The book doesn't trace history and explain why we long had civics emphasis in primary and secondary school curricula but lost it in the 1960s. If this question isn't resolved or at least taken up, what's the likelihood that efforts to restore civics will be successful or long lasting?

2) The book suggests that various trends - "political reform, digital tools, charter schools, strategic philanthropy, teachers, and education reformers, policymakers at all levels of government .... can advance civics renewal". With many conflicts and interest groups in U.S. society, will these diverse actors really bring it about? Are the authors part of a practical/political movement to make it happen? Or do they just like the feeling of discussing big ideas that some insightful politician will pick up and implement? (lots of luck).

3) The issue of social ethics doesn't appear in the book or its index as a critical requirement. Think about it: powerful people like ENRON executives Ken Lay, Jeffery Skilling, and Richard Causey didn't lack knowledge of governmental systems. Neither did executives of the formerly straight-arrow accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, as well as a list of influential scandal-tinged politicians. Rather, they exploited their knowledge for personal benefit.

I do credit the book's theme and concerns. As James Madison recognized from his studies of Classical Greek and Roman authors, democracy was always prone to being corrupted. He felt that democracy will only work if education inculcates future citizens with both knowledge and a sense of social responsibility.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Suggestion December 18, 2011

By Rich Douglas

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

With high expectations, I bought this book after reading a review in the WSJ. My expectations were met. I have a suggestion, however, if there will be future editions. I think the book and the reader would benefit from an essay on the armed forces as a unifying and civilizing influence on Americans from very different backgrounds. Military service certainly had that effect upon me. It is the one place in America where elite private school kids and kids from the Philadelphia ghetto meet on common ground and must learn to rely on each other and get along. The end of conscription in 1973 also ended this phenomenon. Pity.