Students are woefully ignorant about American history and government, and they lack strong civic skills such as media literacy and the ability to distinguish facts from opinion. Too many undergraduates do not support free speech and open exchange: About a third favor speech codes, a quarter favor disinviting speakers, and a fifth favor limits on expressing political views.
This deficit limits our nation’s prospects. In a recent survey , nearly 2 in 5 said that were the nation invaded, they would flee rather than fight. This number included most younger adults .
Unlike past generations, we may lack the civic disposition to sustain America’s successes, correct its shortcomings, and lead the free world. Can we expect to rebuild patriotism if young people are misled about our past, unaware of our civic resources, and unschooled in the ideas that undergird our freedoms?
To address the problem, policymakers should begin by enacting the bipartisan Civics Secures Democracy Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Cornyn (R-TX). Wisely, it would invest substantially in educating young people about our history, governing institutions, and values such as free speech, tolerance, and civil discourse. Specifically, the act would boost federal spending on American history and civics from just $5.3 million in 2021, a paltry sum compared to what Washington invests in STEM education, to $1 billion a year over five years. That would finance civics programs in higher education institutions, school systems, and nonprofit organizations.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member