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