civic education: breaking through the barriers · civic education: breaking through the barriers...

Civic Education: Breaking

through the Barriers National Conference of State Legislatures Fall Forum

Representative Rosie Berger, Wyoming

Why is Civic Education

Important?

“Legislatures are the political

institutions that suffer damage from

an erosive climate: thus legislatures

have to play a major role in providing

civic education on representative

democracy to the public they serve …

Legislatures must provide leadership

to ensure a broad public

understanding of the role and benefits

of representative democracy.”

- Legislatures of the Future: Implications of Change

What makes a

program vital?

How did you learn about the

legislative process when you

were young?

Did someone go through the old

“How a Bill Becomes a Law?” speech

Did you learn about separation of

powers? Check and balances?

Were you intrigued

or turned off?

This doesn‟t

make kids want

to play the game!

It‟s time for

kids to walk in

our shoes.

Be

interactive.

Wyoming‟s Legislators

Back to School Program

In Wyoming, we encourage our

legislators to go into the classroom

as facilitators, not as lecturers.

We provide a lot of materials to help

legislators make the classroom visit

interactive.

Interactive Lesson Plans

Our staff have recently developed two

lesson plans to actively engage students.

These lessons focus on understanding

the negotiation, debate and compromise

involved in making public policy.

Dude Check out my Wheels

This lesson plan is geared towards

elementary school students.

The purpose of the lesson is to suggest

that in a diverse society like ours, people

have different and conflicting values.

It also helps to develop students‟

familiarity with how legislators try and

settle conflicts.

Mandatory Dress Code

This lesson plan is geared towards

elementary & middle school students.

It replaces the old “how a bill becomes a

law” speech.

The goal is for students to learn the

legislative process by simulating the

lifecycle of a bill using fun props in an

interactive exercise.

What do students

learn from our

approach?

We don‟t

all agree

Change

Takes Time

You can‟t

win „em all

Politics

is Messy

Pick a Partner

Find organizations that already have

connections to civics, social studies

and history teachers in your state

Partner organizations can help deliver

these important messages in their

programs

Partner organizations can help get the

word out about your program

Wyoming Partners

We the People Program

Project Citizen Program

University of Wyoming

Partnership for Civic Education

How do we

reach adults?

It‟s about

listening!

Sheridan/Johnson County

Legislative Forum

Sponsored by the Sheridan County

Chamber of Commerce.

Participants tell area legislators about

their wishes and concerns prior to each

legislative session.

Over 30 organizations participate.

Sheridan/Johnson County

Legislative Forum

Many legislators have town hall

meetings, but during these forums the

constituents do the talking.

Provides the opportunity for speakers

to talk about services, budgets,

expectations and pending legislation.

Why should you

dedicate your time to

these efforts?

“If the republic is to receive a fair

trial, people have a right to hear

not only the case against, which

they hear all the time, but also the

case for. By offering an

alternative perspective on

representative democracy,

perhaps we can furnish

necessary balance.”

- Republic on Trial: The Case for Representative Democracy

Thank You!

STATE of WYOMING LEGISLATURE Representative Rosie Berger rberger@wyoming.com