Civic engagement and community participation

Evaluative Argument

Civic Participation

A democracy is as only good as its civic participation. People have to turn out to vote and voice their opinions for there to be balance in the democratic system. However, in the modern democratic systems, there are many voter groups that do not seem to appreciate their opportunities as democratic citizens and actually show up to vote. There are many reasons that could be responsible for this trend and the reasons can vary from group to group. For example, college aged students may have different reasons for not voting than different minority groups. However, when these groups do actually turn out to vote, they can have a big impact on the political system. This analysis will look at some of the reasons that various groups do not engage in civic participation and the implications for society that this has. It will also make some predictions about the future of the political system in regards to future civic participation.

The power that college aged voters can have on an election is undeniable; especially since the data collected about Barrack Obama's election. In the 2012 state of the Union Address, President Obama spoke of education as a national mission; the president believes we are at a "make-or-break moment" for the middle class (Kanter, 2012). This middle class currently faces challenges from nearly every angle. Unemployment is at historical highs. The price of living has risen sharply including education and healthcare.

The challenges that the middle class faces also offers opportunities for a new level of civic engagement and civic learning. There was what is referred to as a "civic recession" in which the public has become disenfranchised with the entire political system. The education system is one avenue to reverse this trend because education is relevant to almost everyone and it is also vital to the middle class. This has led to what has been referred to as a civic call to action. President Obama has challenged us to reclaim the world's highest proportion of college graduates by 2020; Obama calls this the drive to "win the future" (Kanter, 2012). There is a nine step approach outlined by which the education system is proposed to go through a series of reforms to make it more affordable and effective.

However, to make sustainable gains for the middle class, there has to be an escalation in civic participation. Citizen participation is at the heart of a functioning democracy (Verba, Schlozman, & Brady, 1197). There had been a long standing trend of civic disengagement that lasted nearly a century as the voter level has reached its lowest point since 1924 of forty-nine percent participation. There are a number of reasons that voters can feel disenfranchised with the system and give up their civic rights and responsibilities. One reason is simply that individuals feel powerless. In today's democracy, there is a strong sense that money is an important factor in elections. Billionaires are dumping huge amounts of funding in specific elections to influence there outcomes. This can make the average voter feel like their individual vote is virtually worthless and that there power in the election is minimal. However, this is only one issue in the modern democratic system.

Yet the inequalities in education continue to be one rallying point for various groups. Different states have also taken much different approaches to how the choose to deal, or not deal, with education of their populations.

Just like the various views on what constitutes freedom of speech, every state has taken a different approach to dealing -- or not dealing -- with civic education. "The real problem lies in the inequities at wealthy schools vs. lower income, Title 1 schools," says Peter Levine, Director of Research at CIRCLE, who has written a variety of books including: Reforming The Humanities and Engaging Young People in Civic Life (Reiss, 2012).

Many educational programs fail to teach civic engagement. Some are more focused on building job skills with math and science while others are just failing systems altogether. However, there are many cases in which civic education has shown progress.

Florida passed the Justice Sandra Day O'Connor Civics Education Act in 2010 and teachers are now required to teach civics-related content in the language arts curriculum of all grades (Reiss, 2012). The bill even goes so far to ensure that the students take a semester long class about civic engagement before they are allowed to enter high school. Tennessee is another state that has a progressive stance on civic education. Levine says one of the most recent innovative initiatives thus far happened when Tennessee's legislature passed a bill last April. The new bill requires school districts to assess their students' knowledge of civics by giving them assignments that are "student-influenced" and "involve an inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions and carefully designed products and tasks. (Reiss, 2012)"

Discussion

As it stands on average, the wealthy are far more likely to be active in politics than the poor. Furthermore wealthy individuals generally have more resources to spread their influence. Elections now require more campaign funding than ever before and a politicians schedule mostly revolves around fundraising. The poor are not given a fair shot at exercising their democratic responsibilities under the current system. For the poor to counter this situation it takes time and organization. However, to gain the skills necessary to be organizational leaders in their local communities, this takes a civic education. Although it is wonderful that some states are ensuring the youth are receiving a formal civic education, this by itself is not enough.

A civic education and civic responsibilities must be taught in a more comprehensive approach than simply focusing on the youth. Education affects everyone and is one of the foundations of the middle class. The failing education system certainly provides a rallying point in which the citizens can be engaged. Barrack Obama certainly has recognized this and his efforts to reform education are definitely one of the points that helped him get elected. Effective and comprehensive education is really one of the public goods that a civic education can highlight above all others.

A liberal education can help the youth envision what is possible for their lives beyond their birth place and class. Children deserve a liberal education that can empower them to excel towards the best that their abilities allow and that takes a relevant education.