Civic Education
Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people's reach, they teach men how to use and how to enjoy it.
Alexis de Tocqueville
What is "civic education"? It is that form of education that prepares people of a country, particularly the youth, to carry out their roles as citizens. While commonly associated with schooling, civic education is not the exclusive domain of educational institutions. Rather, civic education, as described by Dr. Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, is "the cultivation of the virtues, knowledge, and skills necessary for political participation." This can be achieved through schools and libraries, civic organizations, campaigns and elections, the media, houses of worship, and the like. Thus, civic education seeks to develop within the citizenry a felt connection to the country or society and its values. It strives to educate youth to be "civic-minded," that is to think and care about the general welfare of the community, and to develop leaders that demonstrate the character and values that have shaped our democratic society.
Two important initiatives associated with Sagamore are seeking to build "the good citizen." One project focuses on a new American history textbook and supplemental curriculum materials that aim to engage students and teachers about the development of the American nation and its role in world history. Another project seeks to train business, government, and other leaders in "civic character" so that they serve as role models to current and future leaders and promote the virtues of good, responsible citizenship. To learn more about these initiatives, click on the images below.
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Sagamore Institute
2902 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208 | 317.472.2050 | | 501 (c)(3)