Democracy in Crisis: the Decline of Civic Learning

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor unveiled a new report charting the woeful state of civic education in America and its serious ramifications for the future of our democracy. Civic learning has reached a new low. At a time when public discourse has been replaced by divisive rhetoric and a disregard for facts, Americans lack the basic civic knowledge to become engaged, informed citizens.

Justice O'Connor has recorded several video clips explaining the importance of civic education, and recorded interviews with civics teachers are also available. For the videos, visit: http://www.goodfootage.org/delivery/civic-mission-schools

"The better educated our citizens are, the better equipped they will be to preserve the system of government we have," said former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, co-chair of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools. "And we have to start with the education of our nation's young people. Knowledge about our government is not handed down through the gene pool. Every generation has to learn it, and we have some work to do."

The report, "Guardian of Democracy: The Civic Mission of Schools," is available at: www.civicmissionofschools.org/site/guardianofdemocracy

To stay up to date on the latest news about civic education visit: www.facebook.com/pages/Campaign-for-the-Civic-Mission-of-Schools/213920081995314

Justice O'Connor unveiled the Guardian of Democracy report at the Civic Innovators Forum of the Annual National Conference on Citizenship at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

SOURCE Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools