This issue explores why dialogue is crucial for a thriving democracy, addresses critical issues facing our communities and nation, and encourages us to reach across our differences for the common good.
The Moment
Demand Education Justice
Every child in the United States has a right to an equitable (fair and just) public education. With education currently under assault from the current administration, we all have a responsibility to advocate for inclusive public schools in which all children are supported.
Improving educational excellence and outcomes for all students benefits our communities, nation and shared future. State and local control over education means education is a community resource and a lever for change. By increasing your knowledge and engagement in your community’s educational sphere, you can have a major impact on the lives of youth. Education is foundational to democracy, and a thriving, multiracial and inclusive democracy is essential in building a more just future for all our children. Join us in advocating for public education that fosters excellence and equity.
Advocating for Public Education
We all have a crucial role in advocating for children’s right to quality public education and equal access to learning.
publication
Advocating for Teaching Honest History: What Educators Can Do
[2023] This guide offers resources and tools for teaching honest history in the classroom and strategies for advocating for honest history education.
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Civics For Democracy
Understanding democratic values is an essential step in connecting how government works so we can resist disinformation and participate responsibly in civic life. Each of us has an important role in helping our communities and nation. To strengthen democracy in the United States, we must understand the systems of government, politics and the media. By learning more about the systems and structures that govern society, we can plan and execute action that will bring the U.S. closer to the nation that lives up to its democratic values. Civics literacy is crucial if our nation is to achieve an inclusive, multiracial democracy. The resources in this series can help to develop the civic knowledge, skills and dispositions essential for responsible democratic action.
Resisting Hate in Education
The media in today’s political environment is filled with divisive messages, especially from public figures who perpetuate hate along with disinformation. We all have a responsibility to resist hate in our society and to foster safer learning spaces for young people – especially those being targeted by hate and discrimination. Cultivating dialogue, engaging with facts, and protecting students’ right to learn are essential components in strategies for prevention, intervention and response to hate and bias. The resources in this series offer strategies to help us engage as a broader community across our differences and build networks to foster resilience and take action to resist hate and bias.
Learning from the Civil Rights Movement
Increasing pushback against a more inclusive society challenges us all to become more conscious about the knowledge and skills to participate in democracy. The Civil Rights Movement is a story of people who believed they could bring about change. Learning from the movement gives us models and strategies for action in our communities and our nation to create a more just society. Realizing one’s own capacity for action is an essential disposition for responsible citizenship. As we grow in understanding this history and its ongoing relevance to our lives, we can examine today’s justice issues and find ways to answer the questions: “How can I make a difference?” “How can we make a difference together?”