By Prithvi G. Tikhe
Boston University Statehouse Program
This article was originally published in the Telegram.
BOSTON – Civics education in Massachusetts public schools may be heading back to the curriculum after the state legislature approved a measure designed to meet objections from Gov. Charlie Baker that held up efforts to make history and social science more prominent in classrooms.
Last week, lawmakers swiftly approved an amendment offered by Sen. Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester, designed to address concerns Mr. Baker raised when the bill was initially enacted at the end of July. Mr. Baker now has until Thursday to review the changes incorporated by Ms. Chandler while maintaining what she said is the bill’s original purpose. It was a rare example of lawmakers acting on unanimous approval after the end of formal sessions.
“I am very happy that the final version of our civics legislation has made it to the governor’s desk,” Mrs. Chandler said. “The bill teaches students how to lead and effect real change in their communities.”
The bill, S. 2631, would require Massachusetts public schools to include at least one student-led civics project as part of high school and eighth-grade curriculum and new efforts would be made to register teenagers to vote. Any student who chooses not to participate in a particular group project will have the opportunity to develop an individual civics project, with approval by the principal.
Massachusetts public schools would be required to incorporate American and local history, social science and civics in their curriculum. This would include information on the United States flag, the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, state and federal government, the electoral process, and the role of citizens in a democracy, along with media literacy training.
Mayor Joseph M. Petty of Worcester praised Ms. Chandler’s work on the bill.
“Sen. Chandler deserves a lot of credit for getting this bill over the finish line after many years of advocacy,” he said. “The strength of our public schools is that they make our children into not just fine students, but into good citizens.
“In an age when fiction is sold as fact, it is more important than ever that we are creating students and citizens who can think critically about the civic discourse and their role in society as a whole,” said Mr. Petty, who as mayor is chairman of the Worcester School Committee.
Mrs. Chandler, who spent part of this session as Senate president, also had support from top House leadership.
“When we educate our children about civic responsibility at a young age, we foster the growth and development of our nation’s future leaders,” House Speaker Robert DeLeo said.
The bill had support from both parties.
“This bill represents another successful bipartisan effort to involve young people in a better understanding of our democracy, our history and the ways in which we can engage one another civilly,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester. “The inclusion of civics education in our public schools transcends theoretical learning into opportunities for lifelong participation in shaping public policy and government functions.”
Rep. Linda Dean Campbell, D-Methuen, one of the bill’s House sponsors, said it is extremely timely in today’s political landscape, which is why the Legislature identified civics education as one of its priorities.
“Today we see negative rhetoric used when addressing and debating contentious issues,” she said. “This legislation is not only about ensuring that our students are a well-informed electorate but also that they are able to form their own opinions based off of reliable news sources and nonpartisan classroom instruction.”
Ms. Campbell added the bill institutes a measure of accountability by calling on school districts to include a description of how they are implementing the civics project requirement in their three-year improvement plans. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will be required to review compliance at least every six years, she said.
Rep. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, who is chairwoman of the Legislature’s Education Committee, said the DESE will provide professional development for teachers, and a variety of partners includes the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate and the John F. Kennedy Library.
The bill creates a Civics Project Trust Fund that can be funded by a combination of public and private funds to help promote additional, mainly professional, development.
Ms. Campbell said the fiscal 2019 state budget includes $1 million for DESE to promote the implementation of the new standards and develop new high school assessments aligned with new curriculum standards in civics, history, and social science.
A provision in the legislation requires all funding received from private sources to be approved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and subject to review before it is deposited into the fund, she said.
The bill creates a Civics Project Trust Fund that can be funded by a combination of public and private funds to help promote additional, mainly professional, development.
Ms. Campbell said the fiscal 2019 state budget includes $1 million for DESE to promote the implementation of the new standards and develop new high school assessments aligned with new curriculum standards in civics, history, and social science.
A provision in the legislation requires all funding received from private sources to be approved by the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and subject to review before it is deposited into the fund, she said.
“This is to ensure that pledged funds are not accompanied by conditions, whether explicit or implicit,” Ms. Campbell said. “It also ensures that the teaching of civics is neutral and not unduly influenced.”
Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda said civics education through curriculum and service learning has existed in many of the Worcester public schools for years. She said she has experienced the power and knowledge that civics education connected with service learning provides to students.
“Students will identify a community, state, national or world challenge, research and analyze the problem, engage in conversation with others, and participate in community service resulting in positive community impact,” Ms. Binienda said.
According to the United States Census Bureau, less than 50 percent of voters ages 18 to 24 have voted since the 1970s.
Rianna Mukherjee, communications director of the Massachusetts High School Democrats, said voting is the civic responsibility of every American citizen and that mandating civics education curriculum is a way to combat low voter turnout of young people at the polls.
“There are many issues that young people are passionate about and they need to understand that marching, protesting, and posting to social media is not enough,” said Ms. Mukherjee, a senior at Algonquin Regional High School. “Ultimately, Americans are represented by elected people and if a minority of people are voting, not everyone is represented.”
