1. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/09/v-print/3081459/without-c...
Posted: Friday, Mar. 09, 2012
PUBLISHED IN: VIEWPOINT
From Julian Wright, chair of the GenerationNation board Related Stories
of directors and an attorney with Robinson, Bradshaw &
Hinson, P.A. (jwright@rbh.com):
We live in an increasingly divisive and strident political Related Images
climate. Students are watching. What are they learning?
Studies and surveys tell us that more Americans - and
more youth - know less about government and civic life
than ever before. Most cannot even name the three
branches of federal government, much less say what each
branch does. More Americans can name every judge on
American Idol than one member of the United States
Supreme Court. Fewer still know about their state and
local governments or how citizens and leaders work
together to create the policies and decisions that affect us
every day.
Meanwhile, our schools, community and nation face
complex challenges - amid partisan rancor and a too often
uninformed, or only superficially informed, electorate.
Yet, at precisely this time when K-12 students - our next
generation of voters, employees and leaders - most need
to learn about civics and leadership, they are getting
fewer opportunities. In the age of No Child Left Behind
and STEM education, what gets cut and overlooked too
often are civics classes that K-12 students - and our
communities and nation - sorely need. Without civic literacy, students cannot graduate or become effective
citizens and leaders. Everyone is affected, today and in the future.
How can our community make a difference? By giving our students the advantage of K-12 civic education.
The best way? Through GenerationNation (formerly Kids Voting Mecklenburg), Charlotte's organization for
K-12 civic learning and engagement since 1992. GenerationNation partners with schools, youth programs,
businesses and community leaders to build civic literacy and leadership from an early age. Our programs
reach 5,000 local classrooms and tens of thousands of students each year.
GenerationNation's work - and your involvement - is needed now more than ever. Last month, at an event
launching a national conversation about civics education, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne
Duncan reinforced the importance of educating students to lead in their schools, communities and nation.

2. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/03/09/v-print/3081459/without-c...
"Today's students are tomorrow's leaders, and giving them a strong foundation in civic values is critical to the
vitality of America's democracy and economy in the 21st century," Duncan said. "This call to action is an
opportunity to develop and improve civic learning as part of a well-rounded education so every student has a
sense of citizenship."
With a national political convention coming to Charlotte, 2012 will be an exciting year for our community, a
catalyst for civic learning and engagement that we hope will continue for many years to come. How can you
make a difference? By helping GenerationNation give Charlotte's students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
experience civics in action. Involve your organization, help us raise awareness, volunteer, or make a donation.
Together, we can make sure Charlotte's students have the knowledge and skills they need to lead in our
schools, community and nation.
For The Record offers commentaries from various sources. The views are the writer's, and not necessarily those of the Observer editorial board.
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