“The Great Discussion”

Questions for Consideration

1. Overreaching question: Did the CT legislative act appropriately when mandating civics as a graduation requirement?

2. General discussion questions:

a. What is the role of schools in the United States?

b. What was the historical purpose of mandatory schooling?

c. What is civics?

d. How is it best taught?

e. What is an appropriate age to begin introducing civic-related material?

f. How do Americans view their government?

g. Is a downturn in civic participation to be expected at this point in history? Why? Why not?

h. Prior to the Revolutionary War, Alexander Tytler wrote: "The average of the world's greatest civilizations has been tow hundred years. These nations have progressed through this sequence: From bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance; from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; from dependence back again into bondage." Discuss.

i. By mandating a half-credit of civics is CT helping, hurting, or not really effecting CT schools and the area of civic knowledge and participation?

j. How should such civic concern be addressed?