This sounds really bad.

[_Maksutov]

If you look into the public school curriculum you'll see that civics education still there. If civics are not emphasized by parents and the student is far more interested in everything else, the lessons and values will not penetrate and remain. Consumption of sensational and manipulative partisan media makes learning the broader basis of American government almost impossible.

[_EAllusion]

If you look into the public school curriculum you'll see that civics education still there. If civics are not emphasized by parents and the student is far more interested in everything else, the lessons and values will not penetrate and remain. Consumption of sensational and manipulative partisan media makes learning the broader basis of American government almost impossible.

It varies state to state. Nationally, there was a deemphasis on civics because there are a lot of worthwhile subjects to teach.

Locally, I can say there has been a move away from structure of government material in favor of focus on community relationships.

[_Gunnar]

I remember being taught civics when I was in 8th grade, but that was a long, long time ago. It was not my favorite subject at the time, but I recognized the importance of knowing how our government works or is supposed to work, and I still retain most of what I learned then, largely because I made it a point throughout my subsequent life and education to refresh that knowledge and add to it on my own. I also remember having that knowledge refreshed and reinforced in my high school and college history classes. I am dismayed by the apparent de-emphasis of teaching and retaining that knowledge during the subsequent decades of my life and about how appallingly ignorant most people I encounter seem to be about the basics of our governmental system. I have little doubt that this played a large factor in making it possible for someone as narcissistic, ignorant, self-serving and dangerous as Trump to be elected to the highest office of the richest and most powerful country on earth. History will prove (and, indeed, is already beginning to prove) that the world has become a scarier and more dangerous place because of that.

One of things I find most upsetting about this is the apparent reversal of what had been (it seemed to me) a steadily growing trend towards greater civility and mutual tolerance and acceptance between various religious, cultural and racial groups.