More Than 60 Teachers from the Commonwealth Go Back to School to Bring Nonpartisan Civics Education to K-12 Classrooms
Date: Friday, October 11, 2024
Contact: Genevieve Greene, [email protected], 617-785-6991
The first PA Civics Educator Forum provided teachers with continuing education credits as they learned from experts and gained practical information to instruct students about democracy.
Philadelphia, PA – More than 60 K-12 Pennsylvania teachers attended the inaugural PA Civics Educator Forum at the National Constitution Center on Friday, September 27, 2024. Hosted by the Committee of Seventy in partnership with PA Civics and other civic organizations, this free professional development conference offered educators innovative teaching methods, experiential learning activities, and nonpartisan resources to enhance civic education in their classrooms.
The forum kicked off with an inspiring keynote address by nationally recognized Allentown teacher Shannon Salter, who set the stage for a day focused on equipping teachers with tools to foster informed and engaged citizens. Sessions led by civic education experts covered the three pillars of quality civic education: knowledge, skills, and action. Educators explored how to manage multiple viewpoints, promote productive dialogue, and gained practical resources to immediately implement in their classrooms.
Former congressman Jim Gerlach, co-chair of PA Civics, welcomed attendees, emphasizing the importance of civics education for Pennsylvania's future voters. The forum also included presentations by respected organizations such as the National Constitution Center, Bill of Rights Institute, PA Youth Vote, Rendell Center for Civic Engagement, and the National Liberty Museum.
Lauren Cristella, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy, underscored the value of this initiative, stating, "A strong democracy depends on citizens who understand our nation's history, founding principles, and their rights and responsibilities. Providing K-12 teachers in Pennsylvania with access to high-quality, nonpartisan training and resources in foundational civics education will help educate the next generation of informed, curious, and engaged voters."
"Great citizens are not born, they are made. That's why it is so important for our PA schools to focus on and invest in our children's civic knowledge of our history and government, skills to work with others to address pressing societal problems, and encouragement to take action to solve those problems. And to do that, we need talented and committed educators who are passionate about this educational mission. That's why we are so excited by the success of our first educator forum and the great educators who were part of it," said former Congressman and PA Civics Co-Chair, Jim Gerlach.
"I just love any and all things that pertain to expanding the minds of our students when it comes to this subject," said Meeka Outlaw, a middle school teacher at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic School in Philadelphia. "If we want children to be good citizens, we need to devote resources to teach the subjects that allow for it."
The PA Civics Educator Forum represents the beginning of a series of similar events planned throughout the Commonwealth, with additional forums scheduled for western and central Pennsylvania in Spring 2025.
Photos from the event can be found here and are courtesy of Baiada Photography.
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About Committee of Seventy
The Committee of Seventy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that has promoted, supported and facilitated government ethics and election integrity for more than a century. Seventy advocates for more free, fair, safe and secure elections and works to ensure that every eligible voter votes, is informed when they vote, and votes with confidence. For more information, visit: https://seventy.org/
About PA Civics
PA Civics was formed in 2019 by former members of congress and civic-minded organizations to support, promote, and expand civic education in Pennsylvania in response to Act 35. PA Civics offers resources to help educators develop curricula and build classroom environments that support civic knowledge, skills, and actions. Through advocacy and education, PA Civics emphasizes the importance of engaged citizenship, with a renewed commitment to civics in Pennsylvania’s schools. For more information, visit: www.pacivics.org.
