students understanding about civics courses

Before enrolling in a civics course, most students will already partially understand some of their duties. For example, every student has probably paid a tax of some kind in their life (usually a sales tax). Students probably do not look forward to paying taxes anymore than do most adults, but they do need to understand that taxes allow the government to fund every program that it operates, whether at the local, state, or federal level. If students still do not like their tax burden, because they feel that it is too high, or that they will pay an unfair share of it, or that the programs it funds are wasteful, then they should understand that they have another duty—a duty to change it through political involvement.

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Many people think of voting as a right, and it of course is a fundamental right of our people. However, people also have a duty to vote, although they often do not see voting as a responsibility. America’s system only works if the elected officials remain representative of their constituents. Unfortunately, as many as half (or more in some elections) do not vote, meaning that our officials only represent about fifty percent of eligible voters. The change that many people want never occurs simply because these same people never make it happen. For our government to truly remain loyal to the idea of “rule by the people,” then all of the people must participate.

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A good civics course should also remind students that a citizen may have to provide military service. At present, the United States has an all-volunteer military, but every war since the Civil War has required a draft. Student must understand that their rights do not come cheaply, and that they may receive the call to provide the same sacrifice that almost every American generation has had to make to preserve those rights. A common comment that I hear from students has them saying that they would join the military if the country was attacked, but not for other types of wars. These students should be made to understand that besides World War II, we have never fought a war just for self defense, and that the wars to protect our economic interests or to hold the union together have helped to preserve our liberties as much as or more so than any defensive war.

Lastly student should understand Americans must forever support its government, or the government will cease to support its people in every way, including guaranteeing citizens their rights. In the American system, our leaders answer to the people. Only when the people recognize that they have a duty to restrain the government and to lead the leaders will this system continue to function. Without understanding the responsibilities of citizenship, our students risk exchanging government of, by, and for the people for despotism.