Category: Political Issues

How does politics really work in America?

Lesson Overview This learning unit is based on a recent study from Princeton University that confirms what many Americans have felt for years – the preferences of the average American have very little impact on the laws being passed by the Federal government.  Students learn more about how our democratic republic is supposed to work…




Political Interest Survey

How interested are you in politics? How knowledgable about politics are you? This survey is designed to gauge a student’s self-perceived level of political literacy. Loading…




Political Literacy – What it is and why we should teach it.

What is political literacy? Political literacy means having the basic skills, understandings, and attitudes required to take an active and well educated role in a democratic society.  Why should schools teach political literacy. In a world with so many problems in need of political solutions we need citizens who are capable of filtering through all of…




Heeding Dworkin’s Call for Contemporary Politics in U.S. Classrooms

The following is an excerpt from an article entitled “Three Questions for America“, written by the late Ronald Dworkin.  The excerpt helps explain the purpose of this blog, which is to promote the collaborative development of a new school civics course that helps all students develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions required to take…




Girls Rock The Capitol Vermont

Every year, Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains invites girls ages 15-18 to join our Girls Rock the Capitol Program as interns! Girls work side-by-side with female State Representatives in Vermont to get a behind-the-scenes look at state government, learn about advocacy, and how to enact change in the world. This year’s program…