Why is civic education and engagement important right now?

For the first time in a very long time our country is asking all members of society, including young people, to become civically engaged and accountable. This call-to-action is unique. We are not being called to serve in the military, join a national march, or to gather signatures for petitions. We are not being asked to show up, but rather to stay home in order to save lives amid the pandemic.

Right now, we are witnessing the essence of civic purpose. The number of stories that we are seeing within our Massachusetts communities demonstrates the powerful desire and perseverance of individuals to help and lift each other up during this difficult time. We see the efforts and sacrifices being made by those on the front line, and it is critical to recognize the efforts made by those in the “background.” For it is these efforts that shore up our democracy and will shape the manner in which our country eventually recovers and heals.

We ask you to take a moment to hear the voices of three Massachusetts students on the ways they are taking civic action and why they think civic engagement is important right now. These individuals represent our future. And there are so many more just like them, ready to take the initiative and lead. It is our duty to provide them with the education and guidance needed to reach their potential. We are in the midst of a difficult and painful time in our history during which Americans have risen again to serve. Let us instill that spirit of service to engage more young people in the growing civic life of our democracy.

“I have been calling the people, family and friends to make sure they are doing well, getting groceries. I am living with people 57+.”

“More than ever, our communities need us to advocate for our own health, and for the ones we love the most by staying at home and making sure that our families and we take all the precautions when going out. It is also critical we advocate for those in need of basic resources and use our voices on social media to share important information and resources within our own community.”

-Julian, Age 19

“Besides my own school assignments, I’m homeschooling my nephew, and creating his lesson plans each day.”

“Our communities are in more need than ever before because of the COVID-19. As young people, we should at least try to help through social media or any other way at home. That way our community will get help and support.”

-Safiya, Age 18

“I worked to get online petitions started to allow people under the age of 24 who are dependents to receive the stimulus package.”

“Civic engagement is pivotal in a time where we see a lot of change within our communities. Advocating for each other, lending a helping hand to our neighbors, and donating to worthy causes will shed light on what we can do in a time where people feel hopeless and alone.”

-Fallon, Age 18

Now is the time for us to make sure that young people have the opportunity to ask questions, voice their concerns, and know they have our support. We can do this by providing them with trusted information and meaningful opportunities to learn.

We understand the decision to keep Massachusetts schools closed for the remainder of the school year makes teaching and connecting with our youth challenging. To help support teacher’s efforts, the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC) has compiled a set of resources to help educators, students, and families through this current crisis. Categorized by grade spans, these resources streamline ways to continue civic teaching and learning remotely.

You can also join the MCLC on Wednesday, May 6 from 10:30am-12:15pm ET for a free webinar on Riding the Roller Coaster of Remote Learning. The webinar will be led by iCivics’ Director of Massachusetts Dave Buchanan and Andrew Swan, a veteran grade 8 teacher with Newton Public Schools, who will share some of his own experiences while providing background on principles and practices for effective teaching for remote learning, as well as resources and suggestions for avoiding possible pitfalls. Register here.

This post was written by the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC). The MCLC comprises civics education nonprofits, school districts, youth engagement groups, and research institutions who provide resources, raise awareness and advocate for effective civic education as a core component of every young person’s educational journey in Massachusetts.