Voice in the Classroom How Talking About Politics Teaches Teens About Civics David E. Campbell University of Notre Dame

Where Do Teens Learn About Politics? Home Home Media Media School School Quantity Quantity Quality Quality

How Do We Know What Teens Know About Civics? IEA Civic Education Study Conducted in 28 nations, including the United States Conducted in 28 nations, including the United States In the U.S., representative sample of 124 schools (public and private) In the U.S., representative sample of 124 schools (public and private) Students in 9 th grade Students in 9 th grade October 1999 October 1999

Civic Proficiency Sample Question In democratic countries, what is the function of having more than one political party? To represent different opinions in the national legislature (Congress) To represent different opinions in the national legislature (Congress) To limit political corruption To limit political corruption To prevent political demonstrations To prevent political demonstrations To encourage economic competition To encourage economic competition

Civic Proficiency Sample Question In democratic countries, what is the function of having more than one political party? To represent different opinions in the national legislature (Congress) To represent different opinions in the national legislature (Congress) To limit political corruption To limit political corruption To prevent political demonstrations To prevent political demonstrations To encourage economic competition To encourage economic competition

How Young People Learn About Civics III Social Studies Quantity -- Home Discussion Media Use

Classroom Environment Often or Never? Students feel free to disagree openly with their teachers about political and social issues during class Students feel free to disagree openly with their teachers about political and social issues during class Students are encouraged to make up their own minds about issues Students are encouraged to make up their own minds about issues Teachers respect our opinions and encourage us to express them during class Teachers respect our opinions and encourage us to express them during class Students feel free to express opinions in class even when their opinions are different from most of the other students Students feel free to express opinions in class even when their opinions are different from most of the other students Teachers encourage us to discuss political or social issues about which people have different opinions Teachers encourage us to discuss political or social issues about which people have different opinions Teachers present several sides of an issue when explaining it in class Teachers present several sides of an issue when explaining it in class Students bring up current political events for discussion in class Students bring up current political events for discussion in class Quality of Social Studies Instruction

How Young People Learn About Civics IIIIII Social Studies Quantity -- Social Studies Quality Yourself -- Social Studies Quality Everyone else Home Discussion Media Use

Can Civics at School Compensate for an Absence at Home?

-2 se -1 se Mean +1 se +2 se Classroom Environment Maximum Mean Minimum Evidence for the Compensation Hypothesis Civic Proficiency

Where Do We Find Open Classrooms? Not just suburban, affluent schools Not just public schools Not just small schools In racially homogeneous environments Not race per se, but trust

The Bottom Line Civic Proficiency Is Measurable Civic Proficiency Is Measurable Open Classrooms Improve Civic Proficiency Open Classrooms Improve Civic Proficiency Open Classrooms Require Trust Open Classrooms Require Trust