A case for yawn-free citizenship
It’s a common refrain that immigrants taking the U.S. citizenship test know more about the workings of the federal government than the average holder of a U.S. birth certificate. A group of experts dedicated to grappling with the themes outlined in the Constitution gathered Monday at Harvard Law School (HLS) to explore that disturbing trend and the importance of civics. Two retired U.S. Supreme Court justices, a constitutional scholar, a former U.S. solicitor general, and the dean of HLS took part in the noontime session, part of a daylong symposium titled “Civics Education: Why It Matters to Democracy, Society, and You.” The HLS Dean’s Office, the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education sponsored the event. Dean Martha Minow opened the conversation by asking the participants about their personal connections to the topic, and its relevance today. Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to serve on the...