Commentary on the intent of Pennsylvania's Civics Standards

 

Civics and government education is critical to creating effective, responsible and engaged individuals. Without an informed, responsible society, the role of citizen in diminished.  Unless competent citizens engaged in political life the fundamental values and principles of American constitutional democracy are at risk.   To become an effective and responsible citizen requires the acquisition of a body of knowledge and the development of intellectual and participatory skills.

 

The Academic Standards for Civics and Government were based on the Public School Code of 1949 which directs "… teaching and presentation of the principles and ideals of the American republican representative form of government as portrayed and experienced by the acts and policies of the framers of the Declaration of Independence and framers of the Constitution of the United States and Bill of Rights. . .".  The intent of the Code is that such instruction "shall have for its purpose also instilling into every boy and girl who comes out of public, private and parochial schools their solemn duty and obligation to exercise intelligently their voting privilege and to understand the advantages of the American republican representative form of government as compared with various other forms of governments.”

 

The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790 was the basis for the Free Public School Act of 1834 that is the underpinning of today's system of schools operating throughout the Commonwealth.  These schools were created to educate children to be useful citizens, loyal to the principles upon which our Republic was founded, and aware of their duties as citizens to maintain those ideals.  Today, Pennsylvania’s First Lady, Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, has spurred an initiative to promote civic education. Through her efforts the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy (PennCORD) was created.