Citizenship Education

Programs:

We the People:

The foundation of the We the People program is the classroom curriculum. It complements the regular school curriculum by providing upper elementary, middle, and high school students with an innovative course of instruction on the history and principles of constitutional democracy in the United States. The We the People textbooks are designed for a wide range of student abilities and may be used as a supplemental text or for a full semester of study.

Critical thinking exercises, problem-solving activities, and cooperative learning techniques help develop intellectual and participatory skills while increasing students' understanding of the institutions of American constitutional democracy. The We the People curriculum fosters attitudes that are necessary for students to participate as effective, responsible citizens. After studying the textbook, students take a multiple-choice test and prepare for the simulated congressional hearing. Upon completion of the course, they receive a certificate of achievement signed by their member of Congress or other prominent official.

Alumni Announcement -

In honor and recognition of the twenty year existence of the Indiana We the People program, the Indiana Bar Foundation is currently securing funding to hold a reunion, held on August 25th at Victory Field in Indianapolis.  The purpose of this event is to reunite those who have been a part of one of the most successful state We the People programs.  We hope to reunite current and former teachers of the program, current and former district and state coordinators, student alumni of the program, current and former members of the Citizenship Education Committees of the Indiana State Bar Association and the Indiana Bar Foundation, and current and former institute scholars. 

The picnic will begin at approximately 5:00 p.m. with the Indians baseball game commencing at 7:00 p.m. For those driving from a distance we will have a block of rooms at the Marriott across the street at a discounted rate if you choose. Provided funding is secured, we will mail invitations in July, but please make your initial reservations by contacting Rebeccah Dangelo (rdangelo@inbf.org) at the Indiana Bar Foundation. We look forward to an exciting evening of “hotdogs, peanuts, cracker jacks, baseball, and We the People stories”. Space is limited, so make your reservations early!

Project Citizen:

Project Citizen focuses on the role of state and local governments in the U.S. federal system. The curriculum involves an entire class of middle grade students or members of a youth organization, in a series of structured, cooperative learning activities that are guided by teachers, organization leaders, and adult volunteers. Working in four cooperative teams, the students learn to interact with their government through a five step process that includes:

• Identifying a problem in their community that requires a public policy solution.
• Gathering and evaluating information on the problem.
• Examining and evaluating alternative solutions.
• Developing a proposed public policy to address the problem.
• Developing an action plan to get their policy adpoted by government.

Students' work is displayed in a class portfolio containing a display section and a documentation section.

Summit On Civic Engagement:

Indiana Summit on Civic Engagement

9.11.2007

Hosted by Honorary Co-Chairs

Senator Evan Bayh

Governor Mitch Daniels

Hon. Lee Hamilton

Senator Richard Lugar

Learn more here

CIVITAS:

An International Civic Education Exchange Program is a cooperative project of a consortium of civic education organizations in the United States and other participating nations. The program is administered by the Center for Civic Education and funded through a grant from the United States Department of Education under the Education for Democracy act approved by the United States Congress. The program is implemented throughout the world in cooperation with the United States Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development. The program provides for a series of exchanges among leaders in civic education in the United States and emerging and established democracies worldwide.

Publications: