Civic Learning Round-Up: October

In this series, Citizens & Scholars compiles the best recent articles, reports, and research from around the civic learning field. Stay up-to-date on the latest news, trends, and developments in efforts to build effective citizens. 

New Report: Educating About Elections in a Partisan Age 

When educators teach about democracy in a nonpartisan way, young people are more likely to become civically and politically engaged in the future, say the authors of a new article in the journal Social Education. The article shares lessons from committed and inspirational educators from across the country who worked with the team at the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). The report was published in partnership with the Civic Engagement Research Group. 

The article explores 5 key strategies: 

1. Focus on Relevant Issues and Examples that Connect to Students’ Lives 
2. History Isn’t Enough, Skills Matter 
3. Pair Individual Reflection with Group Discussion 
4. Create Environment for Students to Explore Their Political Identities 
5. Include Opportunities for Practice 

Read the report.

Youth Civic Development 

• Vote Because The World Might Just Depend on It | C&S Perspective
  • “As a product of the hyper-connectivity of my generation and via unrelenting waves of media, I’ve become aware of the multitude of issues that plague our world. Watching these issues compound, paired with a lack of federal action, makes me question what I can do to solve them. But this year, now that I’m 18, I’ve been given one of the most powerful tools of change — a vote.” -Chris Mesfin 
• How Colorado’s Youth Vote Will Shape Midterm Elections | 303 Magazine 
• What is the Goal of Civics Education? Critical Thinking, Teachers Say | Ed Week 
• Mark Bennett: ‘Powerful feeling to have a voice’ begins with voter registration | Tribune-Star 
• Young Black voters are dominating the Georgia midterms one student at a time | NBC News 
• Young Voter Are Motivated, But Still Face Obstacles | Duke University News 
• Students attend mock political convention at NTC| WSAW-TV 
• Survey: Americans broadly support teaching about (most) controversial topics in the classroom | Brooking Institution 
• ‘Voting is too dumb’: Roe is gone, student debt is piling up and young people are mad. But will they vote? | USA Today 
• Organizers hope voting becomes habit for ‘wildcard’ young voters | Town News 
• How Gen Z Voters Might Shape the Midterm Elections as Education Issues Heat Up | Ed Week 

Higher Education & Campus Life 

• Voter Groups Worry About Access for Students | Inside Higher Education 
• Transformational Leaders Program helps School of Management students become change agents | Binghamton University News 
• Civic Engagement At HBCUs: Reclaiming Our Power | Forbes 

Community & Workplace Civic Engagement 

• A Thriving Democracy Is Good For Business | Forbes 
• New NYS curriculum pushing students to make a difference in their community | WKBW Buffalo 
• National 4-H Council makes plans for youth and adult training with $50 million donation| Announcement 

 Civic Learning Field 

• Teaching the Midterms | Center for Civic Education 
• Watch These 9 TED Talks About Civic Engagement | Thrive  
• Opinion: The Civics Secures Democracy Act could strengthen media literacy | The Joplin Globe 
• Fears Over Fate of Democracy Leave Many Voters Frustrated and Resigned | New York Times 
• Opinion: A majority of Americans think US democracy is broken. Here are 12 ideas for repairing it | CNN