A national initiative is underway among Civics educators to regain lost ground in public schools in the United States. A major piece of legislation, the Civics Secures Democracy Act has been introduced in both house of Congress (HR 1814) to promote (and fund) inclusive programs of civics education that recognize and respect diverse relationships with the subject matter of U.S. History and Civics. HRE USA is getting involved.
The Educating for American Democracy (EAD) Initiative, funded through the US Department of Education and National Endowment for the Humanities, is building momentum across the country for a renewed attention to civic preparation of all students. HRE USA has joined the EAD initiative and its parent CivXNow, as a coalition member and EAD champion.
HRE USA was established in 2011 to advocate for the robust inclusion of Human Rights Education in all social studies education programs in the schools, especially those like Civics, that deal with the relationship of the people and the government and our diverse communities with each other. Without HRE, Civics education too often fails to prepare our youth for the diversity, inclusiveness, and respect of the dignity of the person that is essential for democracy to function. We are a pluralistic society in which differences and community both matter.
HRE USA believes that effective human rights education is essential to civic involvement in an inclusive democracy.
HRE USA will continue to expand our description of the HRE/Civics relationship and would love to hear your ideas on how to best center HRE within the family of Civics-related practices needed by a society that values social justice and works to repair its history of racial, gender, ableist injustice. To share your thoughts and ideas, please contact Rosemary Blanchard, HRE USA Advocacy & Policy Committee.
hreusa.org 