A.Thomas Levin Quoted in NYSBA News, "House of Delegates Calls for More Civics Education"

Media Source: NYSBA State Bar News

With New York state in danger of contributing to an already “shocking level of decline” in student understanding of civics, the House of Delegates on January 31 urged state leaders to make civics a top educational priority, on a par with reading and mathematics.

The resolution coincided with a new report from the Committee on Law, Youth and Citizenship (LYC) highlighting the benefits of civics education and pointing out where New York state has faltered in its teaching over the past decade.

A plea for action

Former Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye of New York City (Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP) delivered an impassioned plea to the House for more civics education in New York’s schools, calling on delegates to make a difference.

“With you, uniquely with you, lies an answer to what we can all see in the committee’s report has become a highly distressing, embarrassing situation, desperately, desperately in need of our concerted attention, creative thinking and diligent and perseverant action,” she said.

“It’s clear that we have to invigorate our fundamental values. We have to restore the promise of America for our future and our children’s future,” she said. “We just cannot maintain the rule of law. We cannot maintain our great democracy, without people educated in our nation’s fundamental values.”

The report chastises state education leaders for reducing the emphasis on civics education, and making social studies a “secondary curriculum” in schools, with history and civics being lumped together under literature.

Committee Chair Richard W. Bader of Albany (New Visions Law & Government Program) told delegates that “remarkably,” the participatory experiences designed to show students how to become engaged citizens are neither required nor encouraged in the state Department of Education’s new proposed framework for the Participation in Government component, the half-year course for high school seniors.

“Our legal system and justice system depend on the effectiveness of our schools to make sure Americans are able to appreciate the rule of law and to sustain their trust and confidence in the institutions of our constitutional democracy, such as trial by jury,” Bader said.

Former State Bar President A.Thomas Levin of Garden City (Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein P.C.), a member of the LYC Committee and longtime advocate of civics education, spoke on behalf of the resolution.

“I think everyone in the room is united on this particular point, because without the rule of law and without the flourishing of the rule of law, we’re all out of business,” he said. “It’s high time that civics education be put back in the forefront of our educational system.”

Several other delegates spoke on the resolution, which was approved by the House by voice vote, with one abstention.

The report notes that for the past three years, the state Board of Regents has been considering plans to reduce the number of social studies credits needed to graduate from high school. It also has been considering a plan to allow students to forego the Regents exams in United States History & Government and Global History & Geography.

The report also cites the recent elimination of state social studies tests in fifth and eighth grades as further evidence of a decline in the state’s leadership in civics education.

“Can the elimination of government classes be far behind?” the report asks.

Letter to Cuomo

In addition to the House action, State Bar President David M. Schraver of Rochester (Nixon Peabody LLP) on January 22 wrote a letter to Governor Andrew Cuomo soliciting his support for more civics education.

“Our governmental institutions, including our legal institutions and justice system, depend upon the effectiveness of today’s educational institutions to develop Americans who are educated and committed to the maintenance of the rule of law,” Schraver wrote. “We need future citizens who understand the institutions of constitutional democracy, including our system of law and justice.”