We Forgot to Teach Americans How America Works

Our traditions of civic discourse, habits of free speech, and healthy institutions all rely on robust civics education, especially for our nation’s future leaders.

WHY IT MATTERS

Our current civic climate doesn’t feel like a prelude to celebration. Ideals we hold dear, from free speech to the rule of law, are under threat. Public trust in institutions has fallen precipitously. And in the midst of this turmoil and polarization, many of our leaders seem to have lost sight of their civic duties, vying for sound bites instead of responsibly governing.

These symptoms reflect deeper problems, including failures in how citizens are educated about democracy and self-government. Today, our institutions of higher education fail to teach future generations the importance of our civic traditions or the purpose of our constitutional republic. This is true even at our most elite institutions. No school in the Ivy League requires students to take a course in civics or American history. According to a 2025 Martin Center report, only 14 states require all public-university students to take a civics course as a condition for graduation. And even where they are required, such courses are not always rigorous.