Can the courts save civics education?
Michael Rebell of Teachers College at Columbia University joins us this week to discuss how the courts can and should address the civic empowerment gap in the United States and create better civics education for everyone.
Democracy Works · Michael Rebell, Chris Beem, Jenna Spinelle, Michael Berkman
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Show Notes
Recent elections and the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection have underscored worrisome trends in the present state of our democracy: the extreme polarization of the electorate, the dismissal of people with opposing views, and the widespread acceptance and circulation of one-sided and factually erroneous information. Only a small proportion of those who are eligible actually vote, and a declining number of citizens actively participate in local community activities.
In Flunking Democracy, Michael Rebell makes the case that this is not a recent problem, but rather that for generations now, America’s schools have systematically failed to prepare students to be capable citizens. In the book and in this interview, he specific recommendations for how the courts can and should address this deficiency. He also talks about his efforts to make those ideas a reality — including petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court later this year.
Rebell is Professor of Law and Educational Practice and Executive Director of the Center for Educational Equity at Teachers College.
Additional Information
Cook v. McKee - the case Rebell and his colleagues are taking to the U.S. Supreme court
Center for Educational Equity at Columbia University
Flunking Democracy: Schools, Courts, and Civic Participation
Related Episodes
Public schools, not government schools
Citizenship, patriotism, and democracy in the classroom
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