Thoughts on the Parkland Students and the March for Life

Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post began her recent (Sunday, March 25, 2018) Right Turn blog with this:

“By the hundreds of thousands, they came. They gave impassioned and articulate speeches. The shared their experiences in Chicago, South Los Angeles and Florida. They gave one TV interview after another, displaying remarkable poise and heart-breaking sincerity. Adults decades older watched with awe. These are teenagers. How did these kids learn to do this?”

The March for Life was impressive as teenagers took to the streets and made speeches.  Many adults were amazed although some sought to undermine their accomplishment by accusing these kids of being manipulated.  Ha!  When more students are being shot at, it inspires them to speak up, like it did for the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

But how could these students be so prepared and articulate.  The Washington Monthly nailed it.  They were taught Civics in middle school.

A program promoted by former Democratic Senator Bob Graham and former Republican Congressman Lou Frey through their joint Florida Center for Citizenship led to Florida passing the Sandra Day O’Connor Civic Education Act, named after the former Supreme Court Justice.  Students began to learn Civics and debate.  Now when it counted, they were prepared.

The fact that the Stoneman Douglas students inspired so many others from across the country and the world speaks volumes about the one missing need in our schools; the teaching of Civics. I had Civics courses in my elementary and high school days in the 1960s.  I firmly believe good citizenship requires a good education and especially in learning more about how our government works.  We need schools to do more to educate students on citizenship.