At the urging of Rep. Martin Daniel (R-Knoxville) and 10 other legislators, the Tennessee Social Studies Review Committee has approved language that will incorporate the study of civic matters into the Tennessee social studies standards for the 2017-18 academic years.
This request is designed to ensure social studies standards adequately promote the understanding of the topics required for attaining U.S. citizenship.
“Over the years, civics has become widely disregarded in classrooms across Tennessee and our nation,” said Rep. Daniel. “We need to promote the teaching of civics — including the history of our government, facts concerning our institutions of American democracy, and our political process — in our classrooms.”
The language amended in the standards for the 12th grade government class will include a more thorough focus on civics. Specifically, students will learn the process of becoming a naturalized citizen and also become well-versed in the operation of the U.S. government, civics and historical information currently required for naturalization.
This measure seeks to provide needed emphasis on the study and teaching of civics. The objective is to make civics more prevalent in upper level public high school education across Tennessee, said officials.
“We have a collective responsibility to enable all students with the skills necessary to participate in civic life in our state and our country— and the opportunity to develop a society, enriched by the prosperity of U.S. history,” added Rep. Daniel.
Other legislators supporting the addition to the social studies standards include:
Senator Ed Jackson (R-Jackson)
Rep. Judd Matheny (R-Tullahoma)
Rep. Sheila Butt (R-Columbia)
Rep. Andy Holt (R-Dresden)
Rep. Terry Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster)
Rep. Jimmy Matlock (R-Lenoir City)
Rep. John DeBerry Jr. (D-Memphis)
Rep. Debra Moody (R-Covington)
Rep. David Byrd (R-Waynesboro)
Rep. Mike Sparks (R-Smyrna)