HOW SHE SEES IT We are a nation of civics illiterates

By ROBYN BLUMNER
TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
When Benjamin Franklin emerged from the Constitutional Convention of 1787, he was asked by a Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia, "Well, doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" "A republic," Franklin replied. "If you can keep it."
Creating a government of limited powers and keeping it, Franklin knew, would be two very different things. The framers understood the natural pull of man toward the arrogation of power. They established a framework of essential checks and balances to prevent any one branch of government from overtaking the other two. And they counted on an informed and involved citizenry to watchdog the workings of its elected representatives.
But despite having a more formally educated populace than at any time in this nation's history, we are a bunch of civic illiterates who demonstrate little interest in fulfilling our duties as citizens.
According to a January 2000 Gallup poll, 66 percent of Americans could name Regis Philbin as host of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," but only 6 percent could name Dennis Hastert as speaker of the House of Representatives.
A recent survey of 112,000 high school students found that more than one-third of them believe the press should have to clear what it reports with the government. Yet, I bet these clueless minions could converse knowingly about the breakup of Jen and Brad. People magazine trumps "We the People."
This helps explain why there has been a collective shrug over the Bush administration's position on the Guantanamo detainees. In court documents, the Bush administration has blankly asserted that the president's authority as commander in chief supersedes laws passed by Congress and any liberties guaranteed in the Constitution -- an outrageous assault on our system.
But at least some students understand the danger. When students from Highland High School in Albuquerque, N.M., were asked at a recent national civics competition in Washington about the administration's Guantanamo policy, they responded with a passionate and principled dissent. "If [enemy combatants'] due process rights are at risk," exhorted one member of the school's team, "whose are secure?"
Civics program
These students are learning to become citizens in the best sense of the word, thanks to the "We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution" civics program created by the Center for Civic Education (www.civiced.org).
I have worked with the program for years (it began in 1987, and I began with it in 1990). I judge the annual state and national competitions that test the depth and breadth of students' knowledge.
If we want to find an antidote to the malaise, narcissism, apathy and determined ignorance that has afflicted our body politic, this is it. The curriculum teaches students the philosophical underpinnings of the great American experiment -- the ideas of John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu and Sir Edward Coke, among others -- and imbues them with critical-thinking skills needed to understand, appreciate and challenge the workings of government.
The effect is transformational. During the 2000 presidential election, "We the People" alumni voted at a rate of 82 percent, compared with 48 percent for their cohorts. The high-school students who go through the program -- more than 28-million so far -- are ready to be active participants in this nation's civic life.
But for some reason, funding for "We the People" and another civics programs that the center offers middle-school students did not make it into President Bush's education budget for the next fiscal year.
It will cost $12.2 million to bring the "We the People" curriculum to 2.3 million high schoolers next year (and this sum includes teaching 200,000 middle schoolers, as well). But it apparently was a lesser priority than tax cuts for the nation's wealthiest citizens, so it was discarded.
But thanks to dozens of Republican and Democratic members of Congress, the programs may be saved for another year. Key congressional votes on the funding are expected in June.
We are in a civics education crisis. A National Conference of State Legislatures survey recently found that 64 percent of 15- to 26-year-olds could identify Ruben Studdard as a winner on "American Idol," while only 40 percent can name the party that controls Congress. It makes you wonder: When we lose the Republic, will anyone notice?