Chris Sinacola on the Decline of Civics Education in American Schools

How can we ensure young Americans understand civics? Our K-12 schools have seen a significant loss in the both the quality and quantity of history and civics requirements. Is there any way reverse this trend?

In this episode, Naomi and Ian are joined by Chris Sinacola, director of communications and media relations at Pioneer Institute and co-editor of Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America’s Schools. Chris discusses his new book and outlines what is behind the steady decline of history and civics education, what testing standards and results indicate about the quality of civics education in schools, the importance of connecting students with the roots of the American nation, and what it will take to preserve American tradition and history. Chris also mentions that although some of the data looks bleak, there are upward trends and ways that parents have been mobilizing to protect and improve their children’s education.

Resources

• Restoring the City on a Hill: U.S. History & Civics in America’s Schools | Chris Sinacola, Jamie Gass
• “I’m Afraid of the Kids We’re Leaving Our Country.” A Conversation with Civics Educator Jack Miller | Naomi Schaefer Riley

Show Notes

• 0:46 | What inspired the title, Restoring the City on a Hill?
• 3:08 | Where are we getting civics education right?
• 6:26 | How much do our students really know, and what motivated the need to study this issue?
• 10:35 | When did the decline in teaching U.S. history really start?
• 14:57 | How can primary documents become more of the focal point in class?
• 17:04 | How has reception of the book been, and what is the action plan?
• 20:17 | What role do states play in determining civics curriculum and what benchmarks students should meet?