{"id":328,"date":"2023-08-28T21:08:36","date_gmt":"2023-08-29T01:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/?p=328"},"modified":"2023-09-27T12:18:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T16:18:47","slug":"the-2023-civic-learning-symposium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.bsu.edu\/civics\/the-2023-civic-learning-symposium\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2023 Civic Learning Symposium"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Center for Economic and Civic Learning<\/a> (CECL) at Ball State University hosted the 2023 Annual Civic Learning Symposium August 25th and 26th <\/p>\n

\u201cWe connected teachers, faculty, political leaders, and members of our community in a dialog about the ways in which quality civics instruction can improve the lives of our students and better our community\u201d said Dr. David J. Roof, CECL Director and one of the event organizers. <\/p>\n

On Friday evening the Symposium began with Ball State Interim Provost Anand Marri <\/a>who introduced Indiana\u2019s Lieutenant Governor, Suzanne Crouch<\/a> as the opening speaker. <\/p>\n

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Annual Civic Learning Symposium, Teachers College, Student Center, CREATE<\/p><\/div>Lieutenant Governor Crouch also spent time during the event talking with teachers and community members and took time to examine an original draft copy of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence that were on display from the Remnant Trust, a Public Educational Foundation. <\/p>\n

Provost Marri informed the crowd that in 2020, after a recommendation from the Indiana Civic Health Index, Lieutenant Governor Crouch assumed leadership \"\"of a Civic Education Task Force. This task force listened to expert testimony from civic education experts from around the country, and heard directly from Indiana educators, to develop effective policy changes and recommendations to advance civic education opportunities in Indiana.<\/p>\n

Provost Marri<\/a> noted that earlier this year the National Center for Education Statistics released scores for eighth graders revealing that average civics scores across the U.S. declined for the first time since 1998. Fewer than 1 in 4 students were \u201cproficient,\u201d with a level of understanding sufficient to apply the subject, and 31 percent tested below the \u201cbasic\u201d level. He went on to note that \u201cas a result of Lieutenant Governor Crouch\u2019s leadership, Indiana has emerged as an example of a focused and broadly inclusive approach to this solve this problem\u201d pointing out that because of the Indiana Civic Education Task Force

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Annual Civic Learning Symposium, Teachers College, Student Center, CREATE<\/p><\/div> recommendations Indiana became one-of only 7\u2014other states in 2022 with a stand-alone civics course in middle school.\u201d Indiana, House Bill 1384 authored by Representative Anthony Cook led to the new middle school civic course, which passed almost unanimously with bi-partisan support \u2013 \u201ca testament to Lieutenant Governor Crouch<\/a>\u2019s leadership\u201d Provost Marri said. <\/p>\n

During the event, Lieutenant Governor Crouch<\/a> spoke to the crowd about her path into public service and her concern for quality civic education. \u201cCivic education empowers us to be well informed and active citizens,\u201d said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana\u2019s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. \u201cI am proud to have chaired the Civic Education Task Force that created a middle school civics course to enable Hoosier students to contribute to a healthy democracy. The teachers across Indiana, including those in Muncie and Delaware County, who are implementing this curriculum in their classrooms will truly make a difference in the lives of their students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lieutenant Governor Crouch has consistently noted that our democracy depends upon well informed citizens that are active and engaged in our communities and government at all levels. In order to maintain our \u201cgovernment of the people, by the people, and for the people,\u201d we need to pass down civic knowledge from generation to generation.<\/p>\n

Please see Lieutenant Governor Crouch’s opening remarks:<\/p>\n