Ever watch one of those on-the-street interviews where common Americans are asked basic questions about government and civics?
If you haven’t, DON’T! Trust me: Videos like that get very depressing very quickly.
Whether it’s not being taught in schools, it’s not being taught correctly, or we have genuinely just become such an entertainment-obsessed society that we are apathetic toward absolutely everything else, it is true that a huge portion of the American population has little to no understanding of our system of government. (Check out this 2016 Annenberg Public Policy Center study that found that only 26% of Americans can name the three branches of government, and 1/3 can’t name any branch at all!)
If we wish to protect our liberties, then we need to be informed about the procedures, policies, and actions of our government, and be willing to participate in the political process.
That’s why teaching this stuff is so important! If we want a government that is truly for the people, then the people have to take part in it. And people will not take part in a government they do not understand.
But teaching kids basic civics and government can seem like a daunting, (and very, very BORING,) task.
Now I am not at all opposed to teaching civics/government using a formal curriculum, but, personally, I don’t think it’s the most effective way to teach the subject. The workings of government can seem so heavy and complicated. Reading dull text about it isn’t likely to lighten things up any! Or make it more memorable…
So what are some other more effective, hands-on (and fun!) ways to study government?
Fun Educational Videos
No matter the age of your children, Schoolhouse Rock! is an awesome way to teach kids very basic principles of American government. If you aren’t familiar with it, oh, my goodness, what you’ve missed! It features scores of animated songs that teach everything from multiplication tables to mini history lessons. I grew up watching them myself, and now I share them with my own children. (Schoolhouse Rock! taught all of my children the preamble to the Constitution. Pretty awesome, right? Though I will admit we can’t quote it now without singing it…)
Check out, too, the song about the three branches of government, basic economics, and my personal favorite here, which explains the process that a bill goes through in Congress to become a law…
As simple as these little videos are, I think they can be a great introduction to government for younger children.
For older kids, however, I have come to love many of the Crash Course videos available on YouTube, like this one:
These are short (usually under 10 minute) videos, but they are cram-packed with information. They are better for older kids and teens because they are heavy on details and very fast-paced, but they cover their subjects thoroughly, and make it more fun by inserting animation and humor.
I have seen a video or two where it seemed personal politics seeped into the narrative a little, but for the most part I have found the videos very balanced. For that reason, and because the humor very occasionally teeters on the edge of the inappropriate, I recommend screening the videos before showing them to your kids. (I wouldn’t recommend them at all if there were serious issues. We have watched a lot of these videos, and I’ve only run into very brief questionable content a handful of times. And, yes, I’m a total prude, so take that into consideration.)
Visit Your State Capitol Building
I cannot recommend this highly enough.
Sometimes I think people are intimidated by big, ornate buildings and men and women in business suits — so much so that they would never dream of walking into their own state capitol building. But as a citizen of your respective state, that capitol building is your house. Granted, they aren’t likely to let you throw out your sleeping bag and spend the night there, but it is your tax dollars funding its operation and upkeep, and provided you aren’t there to make a disruption or break any laws, you have the right to observe what is happening there and even talk to lawmakers.
Few things can teach kids about government like watching it operate firsthand. Seeing the state Senate conducting daily business, even boring daily business, or watching a vote taken in the state House of Representatives, will teach them how government works — how bills are presented and discussed, how votes are taken and tabulated, and also how the public can be informed of the process.
State capitol buildings are open to the public. Most are absolutely beautiful buildings, and so much can be learned about state history as well as government just by wondering the hallways past statues and displays, offices, libraries, lobbies, and reception rooms. Click HERE to find the operating hours for your state capitol.
Sometimes passes are required to enter House or Senate chambers, but except in the case of highly publicized or controversial votes that might be drawing larger-than-normal crowds, these are usually easy to obtain. (We’ve visited before when we were virtually the only people in the gallery watching.) A call to the capitol prior to your visit should let you know if there will be any problem. You might want to set up a meeting then, too, with your own state senator or representative. If they are available, most will be more than happy to meet with you.
** A visit to our nation’s capital is remarkable, and I highly recommend that as well, but I realize a visit to a state capital is more doable for most families. And as much as I love Washington, D. C., it’s such a busy and active city it can be overwhelming. I think a focus on state government is probably easier for most kids to take in and process, and because most state government operates in a way very similar to federal government, understanding one invariably helps you understand the other.
Get Involved in a Political Campaign
So you don’t consider yourself one of those people? Listen, few things will teach a kid about politics like becoming involved in the political process.
A friend of our family’s recently ran for local office and I was amazed how much my children learned about local government, almost by accident, over the course of the campaign. Being nearer the process generated a lot of questions from them about local issues, and these turned into some great discussions. They also got to meet other local candidates, take part in rallies and community events, and sit in on debates. I believe watching the political process on a smaller local stage has made them more keenly aware of politics on the larger state and national stage. It has opened their eyes, too, to the opportunity even average Americans have to be involved and take part in their government.
Check out TeenPact
I wouldn’t be doing this post justice if I didn’t mention TeenPact. To explain what TeenPact is, let me take a quote from their website:
“Through dynamic leadership experiences, TeenPact seeks to inspire youth in their relationship with Christ and train them to understand the political process, value their liberty, defend the Christian faith, and engage the culture around them.”
My oldest daughter participated in a TeenPact State Class back in the spring and it was an amazing experience for her. She spent 5 days in our state capital with other young people composing and discussing bills, learning parliamentary procedure, and honing her critical thinking and communication skills. She also had so much fun! This was not a dull week of lecturing and note-taking, but a week of hands-on learning as these young people participated in a mock legislature and took part in student elections. It immersed my daughter in government and the political process, and I’m not sure she could have learned these things better any other way!
Can you learn about government by reading in a textbook and answering questions? Absolutely! But if there are better ways, why wouldn’t you put them to use? It’s exciting to see them learning and understanding our government and the political process, and it gives me hope for the future of our country.
