“To give to every citizen the information he needs … to understand his duties to his neighbors and country … to know his rights …” – Thomas Jefferson
We hold these truths to be self-evident, or do we? On this 250th birthday of our nation it is helpful to reflect. Our founders believed that participatory citizenship depended on an educated populace. It had to be taught.
Thomas Jefferson, the main author of the Declaration of Independence, wanted a system of public education from childhood to adult. Only educated individuals could make this experiment in self-government work.
This past week I spent five days facilitating an institute with teachers from California and Hawaii learning how to teach the principles of our government while upholding civil discourse in their classrooms. Project Citizen helps people of all ages learn how to influence public policy in a civil way based on evidence. It is what fills my heart and keeps me hopeful.
On Thursday was a field trip to the Panetta Institute on Public Policy where the iconic and Honorable Leon Panetta interacted with the teachers. In his decades long service to his community and our country, he told wonderful stories of working with people from both parties.
The institute he and his wife, Sylvia, founded is focused on giving young adults the tools to understand how democracy works. Law students are forced to defend positions with which they may or may not agree. College students are trained to understand policy before serving in congressional offices.
Secretary Panetta noted the most successful elected officials had a few things in common. They believed that their job was to do what was best for the people; they used a strategy that looked toward the future and they knew governing required compromise.
He focused on the importance of education. It is crucial to help our students engage in democracy by setting goals, building a team to achieve those goals, developing a strategy, planning for unintended consequences and being honest with yourself and others. He emphasized the real strength is in our communities. This is the essence of Project Citizen.
Many of the themes Secretary Panetta mentioned also resonated throughout the week as we took teachers step by step through how local government works.
Democracy is hard. It requires informed citizenry and the willingness to get involved. It doesn’t happen by accident. It requires quality civic education at all levels. Education is vital to democracy.
Like many times in our history we are posed with two questions: Are we a country in renaissance, or a country in decline? Throughout history we have had moments when we doubt we can continue this exercise in self-government, when the trust in our leaders has waned.
Are these truths self-evident? Based on Thomas Jefferson’s words, they are only if we have an educated participatory citizenry.
On this 250th anniversary of this country I issue a call to action. One doesn’t have to do everything, but everyone can do something. I choose to be a participant. I choose my community and my country. I choose to continue to approach democracy.
The answer is not found in one individual. The answer is rooted in We the People.
Editor’s note: Cheryl Cook-Kallio serves as the Area 7 trustee on the Alameda County Board of Education. She also sits on the Center for Civic Education Board of Directors as vice chair, and as the state coordinator for California We the People/Project Citizen. Cook-Kallio is a former member of the Pleasanton City Council.
