Civic Engagement

Lesson 5.4 Civic Engagement

Tuesday, January 14

• 6.3.1 Explain the personal dispositions that contribute to knowledgeable and engaged participation in civic communities.

• 6.3.2 Explain how informed members of society influence civic life.

• 6.4.1 Explain and evaluate how people, individually or collectively, seek to bring the United States closer to its Democratic Values.

​Lesson 5.4 Civic Engagement

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

Civic engagement involves “working to make a difference in the civic life of one’s community and developing the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that difference. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.”

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Civic engagement includes both paid and unpaid forms of political activism, environmentalism, and community and national service.

Good Citizen Data

In a Pew Research Center survey in early 2018, around three-quarters of Americans (74%) said voting in elections was very important to what it means to be a good citizen, and around seven-in-ten said the same about paying taxes (71%) and always following the law (69%).

​Why you had to take this class.

Multiple Choice

The local school district can no longer fund school programs like athletics, the arts, and extracurricular clubs without instituting a participation fee for students. This fee prevents many lower-income students from participating in school activities and sports. Students wish to bring this concern to the attention of the school board and get the fee reduced or removed. The school board feels that without the fee, such programs would have to be cut entirely due to lack of funding.

What would be an appropriate first step for the students to advocate for the removal of the fee?

• Stage a protest at lunch over the proposed participation fee

• Meet as a group to create a plan of action and a timeline for strategies

• Conduct a community fundraiser to help cover the cost of the participation fee

• Boycott the participation fees and all school board meetings

Multiple Choice

Citizens in Michigan have noticed that the condition of the state parks has suffered recently due to budget cuts, and many parks have rundown facilities, increased litter, and limited staff. They want to improve the quality of the parks system by getting more funds allocated to park maintenance and operations.

Which of the following plans to solve the problem has the greatest chance of increasing public funds for park maintenance?

• Citizens stop using the parks

• Citizens organize convicted inmates to clean up the parks

• Citizens privately donate money to the State of Michigan

• Citizens write letters to their congressional representatives and organize a publicity campaign using social media to generate support for their initiative

Multiple Choice

The local school district is attempting to institute a strict dress code that would require all students to wear uniforms. Many students feel this would limit their freedom of expression while at school.

What would be the appropriate first step the students could take to try to stop the implementation of the dress code?

• Stage a walk-out at the school

• Address the school board in a speech

• Write a letter to their local Michigan house member

• Research the public policy steps and decide what resources to utilize in their argument

Multiple Choice

The local community park had an icrease in littering. The neighborhoods surrounding the park have become concerned because the litter is blowing into their yards.

What would be the appropriate first step the neighborhood members could take to try to curtail the littering?

• Stage a sit-in at the park and make sure no one litters

• Contact the governor's office and file an official complaint

• Contact the parks and recreation department and inform them of the issue

• Have the neighborhood watch set up a sting operation to try to catch the offenders

Multiple Choice

Anytown School District has decided to change its grade-scale to be 95%-100% is an A; 90%-94% is a B; 85%-89% is a C; 80-84% is a D; and any grade less than an 80% is an E. After rsearching the issue, many students and parents are concerned this will negatively impact the students ability to gain acceptance to college.

What would be the appropriate first step the students and parents could take to try to stop the implementation of the new grade scale?

• Stage a walk-out of school

• Address the school board in a speech

• Ask for the superintendent's resignation

• Write a letter to their local House member.

Multiple Choice

Protests tend to be most effective at...

• Making a specific change in the Constitution

• Publicizing a problem in society

• Bringing people together from both sides

• Making quick and effective debate

Multiple Select

What is required for a democracy to work effectively? Check all that apply.

• Being educated on issues and problems

• Voting from all groups in a society

• Pressure to hold elected officials to account

• Compromises between different peoples