Opinion: Kids don’t know democracy
By Ming W. Chin
To those of us who care about preserving America’s democracy, a recent report on civics is cause for alarm. The National Assessment of Educational Progress found that 3 out of 4 U.S. students lack a basic understanding of democracy.
The study adds to a disturbing body of research showing that most people cannot identify the three branches of government and that, of the three branches, the public least understands the judicial branch and its role in our system of government.
Our Founding Fathers realized that an impartial and independent judiciary is necessary to serve as a check on the other branches of government, to promote equal justice and the rule of law and to protect individual and minority rights. In appointment letters to our nation’s first Supreme Court justices, President George Washington described the judiciary as “the chief pillar upon which our national government must rest” and “the keystone of our political fabric.” The late Chief Justice William Rehnquist once remarked that “it is not enough to have an impressive catalogue of individual rights in the Constitution if the judges who are called upon to enforce these rights are not truly independent.”
About 12 years ago, the truth and wisdom of these words were brought home to me when I met Emil Constantinescu, then the president of Romania. At the time, he was in the midst of forming a fragile democracy. He told me he once had been a judge under former President Nicolae Ceausescu but quit to become a geologist because he got tired of Ceausescu telling him how his decisions ought to come out.
Ming W. Chin is an associate justice on the California Supreme Court.
We get what we pay for.
If we pay our teachers a good salary we get good teachers.
If we don’t we won’t.
Huh? Mr. Claudio, are you suggesting that California teachers suck because they are underpaid? You obviously don’t have a clue. You are paying the highest salaries in the entire U.S. So are you getting what you paid for?
http://teacherportal.com/salary/California-teacher-salary
I’m wondering if the author has gone into the schools to see what the curriculum is for civics classes. We teach it at the senior year I think, which is rather late.
It would require tweaking of the curriculum at the state level, not adding teachers or paying them more. Why not have civics as a small portion of annual social studies during each grade?
Its not the teachers fault as they teach to what they are required to. Its not the kids fault as they are in school, learning. Why not have parents start informing? Share whats in the newspaper and on the TV news. Explain what goes on and they’ll be ahead of the game when they do take that civics class in high school.
“If we pay our teachers a good salary we get good teachers”
???
The basic premise of this statement is that teachers are only motivated to perform well for pay. Most research that I’m aware of finds that pay is a necessary, but not *sufficient* reason for feeling motivated to perform on the job.
I think most teachers would agree with this. I come from a long line of teachers and they all felt they should make more money (who doesn’t?), but it’s not the reason they went into the profession and it’s not the reason they stay.
I agree that parents can augment learning in the home. Look for opportunities for thoughtful civic discourse. Encourage critical thinking… Thinking beyond “you get what you pay for.” Make vacation travel time (if you’re fortunate enough to travel in this economy) an opportunity to learn more about this great country we live in.
This guy is an associate justice on the California Supreme Court and he believes we live in a democracy? Wrong!
The founders of this country created a republic, NOT a democracy. The next time this associate justice recites the pledge of allegiance, I suggest he listen to the words he is saying: “I pledge allegiance to my Flag, and to the Republic for which it stands…”