Tag: public education

Democracy Forum 1/20/17

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine    
Engineer: John Greenman

Program Topic: The Civic Mission of Public Education

Key Discussion Points:
a) What is the historical role of public education in American democracy and civic life?
b) Do inequities in public education and the failure of public schools to prepare all children for citizenship contribute to political inequality?
c) What can citizens do?

Guests:
a) Meira Levinson, Professor of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education https://www.gse.harvard.edu/faculty/meira-levinson
b) Bill Richards, Maine educator and former Associate Commissioner of Instruction for Maine.

To learn more about this topic:
a) Education and Equality, by Danielle Allen
b) “If Democracies Need Informed Voters, How Can They Thrive While Expanding Enfranchisement?” by Jennifer Hochschild
c) “Why Did We Stop Teaching Political History?” by Fredrik Logevall and Kenneth Osgood in the New York Times
d) No Citizen Left Behind, by Meira Levinson

The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes:
Don Carmichael
Suzanne Carmichael
Starr Gilmartin
Maggie Harling
Linda Hoskins
Ann Luther
Maryann Ogonowski
Pam Person
Leah Taylor
Linda Washburn

FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org

Democracy Forum 9/16/16

Host: Ann Luther, League of Women Voters of Maine    
Engineer: Amy Browne

Program Topic: The Civic Mission of Public Education

(NOTE: This was an abbreviated version of Democracy Forum. Due to technical difficulties the show was 30 minutes rather than the usual 60.)

Key Discussion Points:
a) We discuss whether inequities in public education and the failure of public schools to prepare all children for citizenship contribute to political inequality.
b) Has there been a decline in civic education? Or an evolution in what constitutes civics instruction?
c) What do kids typically learn about how government and democracy work in Maine and in the United States?
d) What do citizens need to learn to be effective in civic life?
e) In what ways do disparities in the quality of education among school systems widen empowerment gaps between rich and poor children?

Guests:
Meira Levinson, Professor of Education at Harvard Graduate School of Education https://www.gse.harvard.edu/faculty/meira-levinson
Bill Richards, Maine educator and former Associate Commissioner of Instruction for Maine.   

The all-volunteer team at the League of Women Voters – Downeast who plan and coordinate this series includes:
John Bradford
Linda Hoskins
Ann Luther
Pam Person
Leah Taylor
Linda Washburn

FMI re League of Women Voters of Maine: www.lwvme.org