Everyone agrees that American students need better civics education.
Civic knowledge in America is abysmal. Fewer than half of American adults can name the three branches of government—and a quarter can’t name any branch at all.
Likewise, a quarter of Americans couldn’t name any of the five freedoms guaranteed under the First Amendment.
That’s why supporters of civics education might be inclined to celebrate the recent announcement that a private initiative called Educating for American Democracy would award $600,000 in grants for K-5 pilot implementation projects to applicants from California, Georgia, Missouri, New York, and Wisconsin.
But for supporters of true civics education, popping the champagne in this case would be a grave mistake.
“EAD is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” warns Mark Bauerlein, a professor emeritus at Emory University. In his…
