Focus: Understanding Economics in Civics and Government Lee County Public Schools Mark C. Schug,...
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Focus: Understanding Economics in Civics and Government Lee County Public Schools Mark C. Schug, Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Florida Council on Economic Education
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The Importance of Civics The nation relies on civics courses to teach young people: – How our democratic institutions work. – How citizens participate in a democratic system. – How to maintain a reasoned loyalty yet critical view of our democratic institutions, legal system, and politicians. The nation generally supports civics education.
Transcript of Focus: Understanding Economics in Civics and Government Lee County Public Schools Mark C. Schug,...
Focus: Understanding Economics in Civics and GovernmentLee County
Public Schools
Mark C. Schug, Ph.D.
Overview
Demonstration of lessons 1 and 8
The Importance of Civics
The nation relies on civics courses to teach young people:
How our democratic institutions work.
How citizens participate in a democratic system.
How to maintain a reasoned loyalty yet critical view of our democratic institutions, legal system, and politicians.
The nation generally supports civics education.
Problems Teaching Civics
Boring in content
Boring in pedagogy
2004 Alliance for Representative Democracy Survey
This group commissioned a 2004 survey to be conducted with a sample of 1,219 adults over age 18 thought to be representative of the U.S population.
Americans believe civic education should be a central part of public schools.
Although the public believes the most important goal of public schools is developing basic skills, seven in ten say preparing students to be competent and responsible citizens is a “central purpose of public schools.”
They rank civic education as just as important as preparing students for college.
Americans believe civic education develops positive character traits that are valuable to society.
Ninety-one percent value civic education programs in public schools because they are “important for maintaining a healthy democracy.”
The public believes civic education makes a major contribution to developing responsible citizens (cited by 94 percent), instilling a
sense of national pride (90 percent) and increasing political participation (88 percent).
Americans believe civic education develops positive character traits ...
Large majorities also endorse civic education as effective in improving student academic achievement (85 percent), preparing students for employment (84 percent) and improving student behavior (80 percent).
But, schools and students are not doing a good enough job.
Americans give public schools a C grade for the job they are doing in training students to be competent and responsible citizens.
Young people receive a C- for their civic awareness and engagement.
Survey of Americans by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (2006-2007)
Intercollegiate Studies Institute surveyed 2,508 American adults.
While Americans disagree on many public issues, they maintain a broad national consensus on the importance of civic literacy.
It found widespread support for civics at the college level.
Survey of Americans by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (2006-2007)
But the survey showed much remains to be done.
The average score on a basic test of civics was 49%.
Less than half could name all three branches of the government.
21% knew that the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Survey of Americans by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (2006-2007)
53% knew that the power to declare war belongs to Congress. Almost 40% incorrectly believe it belongs to the president.
27% knew the Bill of Rights expressly prohibits establishing an official religion for the United States.
National Achievement Reports for Social Studies: The Big 4
Civics
Economics
Geography
History
Core standards all stress civics, economics, geography, and history.
State standards are placing more emphasis on teaching economics in non-economics courses such as civics.
What Can Economics Contribute?
Economics helps focus on real world issues and controversies.
Economics can be used to understand the behavior of elected officials.
2011 National State Survey by the CEE
High school economic requirements continue to increase.
Civics Standards in Florida
Civics Standards in Florida
Overview
Authors
LESSON 1
What’s going on in this picture?
36
36
Japan and Taiwan are heavily lit up. China does well, and you can clearly spot the area around Hong Kong. You can see the trans-Siberian railway, which is lined with towns. South Korea blazes with light, nowhere brighter than the region around Seoul. But North Korea is virtually black, with just a small blip of light at Pyong-Yang and nothing else whatever. Even from space, the failure of North Korea is blatantly obvious.
North Korea is an economic basket case, and the primary reason is the utter incompetence of its leadership. In the first half of the 20th century, the region which is now South Korea was almost exclusively agrarian, and the region which is now North Korea was industrialized. Korea was under Japanese rule, which was brutal but at least somewhat efficient. Korea was liberated at the end of World War II because of the defeat of Japan, and shortly thereafter was partitioned as part of Cold War politics, leading to the war there and the current partition.
Now South Korea is one of the great industrial and high-tech economies on the planet, and North Korea is among the very poorest of nations. If there is ever unification, it's clear that North Korea will be swallowed by the South culturally, politically and economically, and all remnants of the failed North Korean system will vanish as rapidly as they can be dismantled. Which is part of the problem.
What’s going on in this picture?
37
37
Japan and Taiwan are heavily lit up. China does well, and you can clearly spot the area around Hong Kong. You can see the trans-Siberian railway, which is lined with towns. South Korea blazes with light, nowhere brighter than the region around Seoul. But North Korea is virtually black, with just a small blip of light at Pyong-Yang and nothing else whatever. Even from space, the failure of North Korea is blatantly obvious.
North Korea is an economic basket case, and the primary reason is the utter incompetence of its leadership. In the first half of the 20th century, the region which is now South Korea was almost exclusively agrarian, and the region which is now North Korea was industrialized. Korea was under Japanese rule, which was brutal but at least somewhat efficient. Korea was liberated at the end of World War II because of the defeat of Japan, and shortly thereafter was partitioned as part of Cold War politics, leading to the war there and the current partition.
Now South Korea is one of the great industrial and high-tech economies on the planet, and North Korea is among the very poorest of nations. If there is ever unification, it's clear that North Korea will be swallowed by the South culturally, politically and economically, and all remnants of the failed North Korean system will vanish as rapidly as they can be dismantled. Which is part of the problem.
Focus: Understanding Economics in Civics and Government
LESSON 8
Questions
Guide to Economic Reasoning
3. People respond to incentives In predictable ways.
4. Economic systems influence individual choices and incentives.
5. Voluntary trade creates wealth.
6. The consequences of choices lie in the future.
Guide to Political Reasoning
The first lesson of economics is scarcity.
There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it.
The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.
Thomas Sowell
Guide to Political Reasoning
Laws are like sausages. It is better not to see them being made.
Otto Van Bismarck
I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace, two men are called a law firm, and three or more become a Congress.
John Adams
Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
Mark Twain
Guide to Political Reasoning
An honest politician is one who when he is bought will stay bought.
Simon Cameron
In America anyone can become President. That’s one of the risks you take. Adlai Stevenson
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
George Bernard Shaw
Guide to Political Reasoning
Take any 3 letters in the alphabet, put them in any order, and you have the acronym for a federal agency. Milton Friedman
When I die, I want to be buried in Chicago. I want to stay active in politics. Mo Udall
Sample Question
1. Which of the following are inalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence?
A. life, liberty, and property
B. honor, liberty, and peace
C. liberty, health, and community
D. life, respect, and equal protection
E. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Sample Question
2. In 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed a series of government programs that became known as:
A. the Great Society
B. the Square Deal
C. the New Deal
D. the New Frontier
A. executive, legislative, judicial
B. executive, legislative, military
C. bureaucratic, military, industry
D. federal, state, local
Mark C. Schug, Ph.D.
Overview
Demonstration of lessons 1 and 8
The Importance of Civics
The nation relies on civics courses to teach young people:
How our democratic institutions work.
How citizens participate in a democratic system.
How to maintain a reasoned loyalty yet critical view of our democratic institutions, legal system, and politicians.
The nation generally supports civics education.
Problems Teaching Civics
Boring in content
Boring in pedagogy
2004 Alliance for Representative Democracy Survey
This group commissioned a 2004 survey to be conducted with a sample of 1,219 adults over age 18 thought to be representative of the U.S population.
Americans believe civic education should be a central part of public schools.
Although the public believes the most important goal of public schools is developing basic skills, seven in ten say preparing students to be competent and responsible citizens is a “central purpose of public schools.”
They rank civic education as just as important as preparing students for college.
Americans believe civic education develops positive character traits that are valuable to society.
Ninety-one percent value civic education programs in public schools because they are “important for maintaining a healthy democracy.”
The public believes civic education makes a major contribution to developing responsible citizens (cited by 94 percent), instilling a
sense of national pride (90 percent) and increasing political participation (88 percent).
Americans believe civic education develops positive character traits ...
Large majorities also endorse civic education as effective in improving student academic achievement (85 percent), preparing students for employment (84 percent) and improving student behavior (80 percent).
But, schools and students are not doing a good enough job.
Americans give public schools a C grade for the job they are doing in training students to be competent and responsible citizens.
Young people receive a C- for their civic awareness and engagement.
Survey of Americans by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (2006-2007)
Intercollegiate Studies Institute surveyed 2,508 American adults.
While Americans disagree on many public issues, they maintain a broad national consensus on the importance of civic literacy.
It found widespread support for civics at the college level.
Survey of Americans by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (2006-2007)
But the survey showed much remains to be done.
The average score on a basic test of civics was 49%.
Less than half could name all three branches of the government.
21% knew that the phrase “government of the people, by the people, for the people” comes from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Survey of Americans by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (2006-2007)
53% knew that the power to declare war belongs to Congress. Almost 40% incorrectly believe it belongs to the president.
27% knew the Bill of Rights expressly prohibits establishing an official religion for the United States.
National Achievement Reports for Social Studies: The Big 4
Civics
Economics
Geography
History
Core standards all stress civics, economics, geography, and history.
State standards are placing more emphasis on teaching economics in non-economics courses such as civics.
What Can Economics Contribute?
Economics helps focus on real world issues and controversies.
Economics can be used to understand the behavior of elected officials.
2011 National State Survey by the CEE
High school economic requirements continue to increase.
Civics Standards in Florida
Civics Standards in Florida
Overview
Authors
LESSON 1
What’s going on in this picture?
36
36
Japan and Taiwan are heavily lit up. China does well, and you can clearly spot the area around Hong Kong. You can see the trans-Siberian railway, which is lined with towns. South Korea blazes with light, nowhere brighter than the region around Seoul. But North Korea is virtually black, with just a small blip of light at Pyong-Yang and nothing else whatever. Even from space, the failure of North Korea is blatantly obvious.
North Korea is an economic basket case, and the primary reason is the utter incompetence of its leadership. In the first half of the 20th century, the region which is now South Korea was almost exclusively agrarian, and the region which is now North Korea was industrialized. Korea was under Japanese rule, which was brutal but at least somewhat efficient. Korea was liberated at the end of World War II because of the defeat of Japan, and shortly thereafter was partitioned as part of Cold War politics, leading to the war there and the current partition.
Now South Korea is one of the great industrial and high-tech economies on the planet, and North Korea is among the very poorest of nations. If there is ever unification, it's clear that North Korea will be swallowed by the South culturally, politically and economically, and all remnants of the failed North Korean system will vanish as rapidly as they can be dismantled. Which is part of the problem.
What’s going on in this picture?
37
37
Japan and Taiwan are heavily lit up. China does well, and you can clearly spot the area around Hong Kong. You can see the trans-Siberian railway, which is lined with towns. South Korea blazes with light, nowhere brighter than the region around Seoul. But North Korea is virtually black, with just a small blip of light at Pyong-Yang and nothing else whatever. Even from space, the failure of North Korea is blatantly obvious.
North Korea is an economic basket case, and the primary reason is the utter incompetence of its leadership. In the first half of the 20th century, the region which is now South Korea was almost exclusively agrarian, and the region which is now North Korea was industrialized. Korea was under Japanese rule, which was brutal but at least somewhat efficient. Korea was liberated at the end of World War II because of the defeat of Japan, and shortly thereafter was partitioned as part of Cold War politics, leading to the war there and the current partition.
Now South Korea is one of the great industrial and high-tech economies on the planet, and North Korea is among the very poorest of nations. If there is ever unification, it's clear that North Korea will be swallowed by the South culturally, politically and economically, and all remnants of the failed North Korean system will vanish as rapidly as they can be dismantled. Which is part of the problem.
Focus: Understanding Economics in Civics and Government
LESSON 8
Questions
Guide to Economic Reasoning
3. People respond to incentives In predictable ways.
4. Economic systems influence individual choices and incentives.
5. Voluntary trade creates wealth.
6. The consequences of choices lie in the future.
Guide to Political Reasoning
The first lesson of economics is scarcity.
There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it.
The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics.
Thomas Sowell
Guide to Political Reasoning
Laws are like sausages. It is better not to see them being made.
Otto Van Bismarck
I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace, two men are called a law firm, and three or more become a Congress.
John Adams
Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
Mark Twain
Guide to Political Reasoning
An honest politician is one who when he is bought will stay bought.
Simon Cameron
In America anyone can become President. That’s one of the risks you take. Adlai Stevenson
A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always count on the support of Paul.
George Bernard Shaw
Guide to Political Reasoning
Take any 3 letters in the alphabet, put them in any order, and you have the acronym for a federal agency. Milton Friedman
When I die, I want to be buried in Chicago. I want to stay active in politics. Mo Udall
Sample Question
1. Which of the following are inalienable rights referred to in the Declaration of Independence?
A. life, liberty, and property
B. honor, liberty, and peace
C. liberty, health, and community
D. life, respect, and equal protection
E. life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Sample Question
2. In 1933 Franklin Delano Roosevelt proposed a series of government programs that became known as:
A. the Great Society
B. the Square Deal
C. the New Deal
D. the New Frontier
A. executive, legislative, judicial
B. executive, legislative, military
C. bureaucratic, military, industry
D. federal, state, local
