Area Schools Lauded for Civics Education

Three area high schools were lauded Monday for maintaining their status as Illinois Democracy High Schools.

The schools, Glenbard North, and Wheaton North, earned the distinction after the Illinois Civics Mission completed a civics audit of school curriculum. Shawn Healy, chairman of the Illinois Civics Mission Coalition, said the organization examines the schools to see if they teach civics and offer the students a chance to engage in civic duties like student government, the school newspaper or the model United Nations.

“Simply put, a Democracy School provides civic instruction and provides the opportunities to engage in them,” he said.

One area of civic involvement that students at Glenbard South have undertaken is working with Habitat for Humanity. Erica Bray-Parker, a social studies teacher at Glenbard North, said the civic lessons have been a great addition to the school.

That feeling was echoed by Bob Friend, a Glenbard High School District 87 school board member. Friend, who attended Monday’s gathering, said he was pleased with the efforts of the staff and students at the two Glenbard high schools.

“When I see the amount of work these students put into this effort it’s really unbelievable. We want them to be involved in extracurricular activities and it’s great they’re taking to it like they have,” Friend said. “This is an honor for them and for the district.”

In addition to being recognized for their efforts in teaching civics, the students were also addressed by various elected officials from DuPage County. Speaking to the students from the 11 high schools, Rep. Randy Ramey, a Carol Stream Republican and chairman of the DuPage County Republican Party, said it is incumbent upon each citizen to take an active role in civics.

“As a citizen you have a right and a responsibility to be involved and make things better,” Ramey said.

Regional Superintendent Darlene Ruscitti said she was so proud that more than half of the schools identified as Democracy High Schools are in her district. A fan of civics education, Ruscitti said she wants to see civics take a more prominent role in high school and junior high school curriculums.

“It’s just so important that we know about our government and how we the people control the government,” Ruscitti said. “Understanding the whys and hows of the way things are gives us the tools to be better citizens. Democracy has to be sustainable.”

Ruscitti decried the lack of civics education is the fault of No Child Left Behind, which places an emphasis on math and English, but not civics.

Because of the emphasis on other subjects, Healy said civics education has been reduced to an elective.

Keynote speaker Andy Shaw, president of the Better Government Association, agreed with Ruscitti that continued civics education should be required throughout high school. A former broadcast journalist, Shaw joined the BGA in 2009. He told the students he took over an organization that traced its history back to the days of notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone. In 1923 a group of concerned citizens formed the BGA to combat Capone’s influence at City Hall.

“We are watchdogs. We are shining a light on government and holding them accountable. Better government is a right…but it’s a fight to maintain it,” Shaw said.

Shaw urged the students to continue learning about civics and gaining a greater understanding of the notion of government for the people by the people. Once the students have a firm grasp they can serve as watchdogs in their communities, he said.