As noted here recently, the South is experiencing explosive population growth and a changing demographic.

In this report, the Southern Regional Education Board takes a look at the implications for school systems around the South and concludes:

More than half of the nation’s population growth over the next 20 years will be in SREB states. The most dramatic increase will be in the Hispanic population. The preschool-to-college-age proportions of the population are expected to be similar to those today, however. The proportion of working-age adults will decline, and the proportion of older adults will rise.

These projected changes, when coupled with faster minority growth rates, imply ongoing educational challenges for the SREB states. The proportionally smaller working-age population will have to support an increasingly minority and low-income school population and a rapidly growing number of retirees.

States in the SREB region include Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

From 1997 to 2007, the overall growth in SREB states was 17% as compared to 13% nationwide. The four fastest growing SREB states from 1997 to 2007 were Georgia (27%), Florida (24%), Texas (24%), and North Carolina (22%).

It is interesting to note that two of these states, Texas and Florida (along with Tennessee) have no state income tax. They rely heavily on sales tax revenues which many experts say provide less elasticity in growing economies, making it harder for states to keep up funding for education and other government services.

Labels: demographics, education

Discussions about youth involvement in government and politics frequently turn to the question: "Do they still teach civics these days?"

With early voting underway in many states in the South and Super Tuesday right around the corner, parents have an excellent opportunity for a real life civics lesson: Take your kids with you when you vote!

This morning, the Tennessee Senate passed SJR604 which "encourages every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other adult guardian to take a child with you to vote on election day as a first-hand civic learning experience and an example of good citizenship in action."

Notwithstanding the excitement surrounding this year's elections, increasing voter apathy and declining interest in government and public affairs over the years suggested a need to restore civics education in America's public schools. Unfortunately, subjects such as civics have taken a back seat with more attention and resources focused on No Child Left Behind.

Beginning in 2003, the Congressional Conferences on Civic Education, sponsored by the Alliance for Representative Democracy and hosted by the Joint Leadership of the U.S. Congress, has held a series of national conferences on civics education in America. At the first conference, the group issued a declaration recognizing:

• The urgent need to address the low level of civic engagement in America;

• That civic engagement is essential to maintaining our representative democracy;

• That schools are essential to civic engagement to prepare students for the obligations and responsibilities of citizenship; and

• That civic education should not be incidental to the schooling of American youth but a central purpose of education essential to the well being of representative democracy.

There are several initiatives underway around the South.

Based on their participation in the conference, the Kentucky Civic Literacy Initiative, headed by Secretary of State Trey Grayson, is working to restore civics education in the state's public schools. Their Rediscovering Democracy: Agenda for Action includes a Kentucky Center for Civic Excellence, a pilot study of a high school government and civics course that integrates both civic literacy and civic engagement at the local, state, and federal level, an annual teacher academy and network to provide professional development in the area of government and civics, and statewide civics learning assessment.

More recently, the Tennessee Commission on Civics Education, chaired by State Sen. Rosalind Kurita (D-Clarksville), was tasked with studying the state of civics education in Tennessee and making policy recommendations. The commission reviewed current programs and surveyed every school in Tennessee about their civics classes. They also heard from Secretary of State Trey Grayson of Kentucky. The commission reviewed the survey results and other findings and recommended legislation that will be introduced shortly.

Last year, West Virginia passed legislation to establish the Civic Literacy Council, which will "assess the status of civic education in West Virginia, compile an inventory of civic engagement and service-learning opportunities available to West Virginia students at all levels of education, make recommendations to enhance civics education, and promote a network of civics education professionals to share information and strengthen partnerships.

In 2005, Louisiana passed legislation to create the Louisiana Commission on Civic Education to "promote civic education, act as a clearinghouse for civic education in the State and to promote communication among entities providing civic education."

In a separate program, the North Carolina Civics Education Consortium "provides resources and best practices for teaching civics to elementary, middle, and secondary schools. It brings local community leaders into the classrooms and involves students in projects that explore civic issues in their communities." The Consortium also offers grants for "innovative and collaborative civic education projects which develop effective citizenship among North Carolina’s children and youth."

Labels: civics, education