Justice O’Connor Again Misses the Big Picture on Civics

Here's 'more of the same' from the former Supreme Court Justice. ("Turning Students Into Citizens" by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, October 27, 2008.)

As we look to the beginning of a new Presidency and Congress, the National Assessment Governing Board makes preparation for the upcoming 2010 NAEP assessments in Civics and U.S. History. I found it interesting that Justice O'Connor continues to ignore this event. She could not bring herself to utter even one word about the inequity which Civics faces at the national level -- that no state has ever been held accountable for how well it imparts to students the knowledge and skills requisite for effective citizenship. For the umpteenth time she has said not a word, nadda, zip, zero!

I find it a bit amusing to see that Justice O'Connor once again begins with the comment "we are failing to impart civics information . . ." and then proceeds to cite the ever famous survey that revealed kids today know the "Three Stooges" better than they know the "three branches" of government. Although she discusses the 'partial answer' to the problem, I keep wondering when she is ever going to address the 'rest’ of the problem? She never has and apparently never will'.

Justice O’Connor, for what reason would the president's brother, Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, sign into law a measure that once eliminated American Government and American History as graduation requirements for all students? For anyone who needs reminding, it was because Florida wasn't being held accountable on these subjects and they weren't therefore 'important' to his mission of 'raising student achievement.' Although we need to thank O'Connor for once again sharing the awareness that we've lost 'instructional time' to civics (I wonder what caused that to happen?), I resent her contention that the major problem for this crisis is that it's being taught poorly by teachers. Or that it's our 'textbooks’ fault. Or that a half billion dollars in teacher training hasn't been enough to get things 'right' by now. Although we all agree with her statement that it’s too ‘important’ to put on the sidelines, it’s just as obvious that until someone starts to keep score, this subject won’t get much playing time on the field. And even if it does, what will keep it that way?

When she does manage to speak to the impact of national testing in areas other than civics, she seemingly can't even mention the everlasting inequity we face on the NAEP assessments that occur every 4-8 years. Worse, she can’t even seem to mention that these assessments are even coming up again in 2010. (Does she even know this, one wonders?) Two bills in Congress (S1414 and H6525) would address this issue by appropriating $8 million in order that the Department of Education could compare the student achievement scores in grades 8 and 12 in up to 10 states against a national profile – something which is routine for all other core subjects. These bills have languished in committee for the last three Congresses as the situation has only grown worse. Justice Connor missed this opportunity in the last NAEP of 2006 and she cannot seem to depart from the role of being Nero while Rome burns! The time to address the need for such a program is now Justice O’Connor, not the year they are to be administered.

Every governor and every state DOE webpage is filled with references to "The Nation's Report Card," as NAEP is called. It appears that hell will first freeze over before anyone at the national level gets some realistic talking points to Justice O'Connor so that when she takes the Bully Pulpit the next time she might be able to describe what the 'rest’ of the problem is.

How could the 'conspiracy of silence' which began long before the NAEP 2006 assessments took place continue to this day? How can it be that Justice O’Connor and other national civic leaders and historians for the most part remain mute on this issue? Why is it that Congress will once again have to -- for the FOURTH time -- watch as civics and history professional organizations practically ignore legislation that would reform NAEP and quite possibly help serve to turn the tide in restoring our curriculum as a core subject area?

Heaven only knows. Perhaps there really IS a conspiracy to destroy the nation. That makes about as much sense as some of the 'answers' to the above questions.

That's just my two cents.


Jack Bovee
199698 Villa Rosa Loop
Ft. Myers, FL 33967
Phone 239-482-8594 email: JSBovee@aol.com

The writer has been a social studies educator, a former elementary school principal, and serves as Legislative Chair for the Florida Association of Social Studies Supervisors. He may be reached at JSBovee@aol.com.