The State of the Union is divided, but there’s one place Biden can find middle ground 

When President Biden give a state of the union address In tonight’s message to Congress, America’s Supreme Court justices will be in the front row wearing black robes.

The Supreme Court, like many American institutions, divided, When it comes to issues like abortion, affirmative action, and presidential immunity. But there is one issue on which there is agreement. That is civic education.

For example, Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Amy Coney Barrett could not be more ideologically different, they just vote together. 29 percent at the time.But both judges are part of the case National Civics Learning Weekis currently in its second year. It is the brainchild of a non-profit organization called iCivics.

Established in 2009 Another judge, Sandra Day O’Connor, said iCivics is working with educators, the media and bipartisan leaders to ensure that new generations learn about constitutional democracy. Nothing is more urgent today than addressing gaps in America’s understanding of our system.

this year, civic learning week is held at George Washington University and includes hundreds of virtual and in-person events that promote at-home understanding of what modern civics education means. This year’s theme, “2024 and Beyond: Civic Learning as a Cohesive Force,” focuses on the need to make citizenship a national priority to counter polarization.

According to the 2023 Annual Citizen Knowledge Survey carried out In 2023, the Annenberg Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found that one in 20 Americans does not know what rights they have under the First Amendment. One in six Americans cannot name a government department.

The American Bar Association also: annual survey About civic literacy. In 2023, found “As many as 85% of U.S. residents think civility is worse than it was 10 years ago, and a majority think social media and the media are to blame.”

“Public knowledge of the Supreme Court varied. When asked about the duties assigned to the high court, 83% knew that the high court serves as the final authority in interpreting the U.S. Constitution. When asked to name the current chief justice, most respondents chose John Roberts (59%), even though an increasing number of respondents erroneously gravitated towards Clarence Thomas (19%) over the years. You made the right choice.”

A lack of civic knowledge creates a lack of trust in others and in government.

According to a 2022 study by Stanford University, sixth graders Learn to trust and dislike each other at an early age We know less about civil society and democracy than we did in previous decades, making it difficult to find common ground.

Public trust in government has been declining for decades, but has now reached a breaking point. close to record low. In 2023, Pew reported that “fewer than 2 in 10 Americans (1%) say they trust the government in Washington to do the right thing ‘almost always’, or more in 10 (15%). ), which is among the lowest. Its measurements have been trusted over nearly 70 years of polling. ”

What iCivics does is address the civics knowledge gap by providing educational materials for 145,000 educators and 9 million students annually. free. From games and simulations to fun exercises, students learn about U.S. government agencies, the Constitution, and individual rights.

Schools and organizations across the country recognize the challenge of raising standards in civics education and are meeting it head-on.

Massachusetts is home to the League of Women Voters and the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition. need a curriculum Intended for 8th grade and high school students, including student-led civics projects.They also introduce “Civics for adults” It addresses topics such as democracy, elections, and the role of parliament.

After receiving a C grade from Kentucky, Citizen health assessment Lawmakers are considering ways to better ensure civics education in high schools by making civics exams more competitive and giving students the option to take civics exams. civics course.

“Only eight states and the District of Columbia require year-round high school civics education.” write Richard Haas of The Atlantic. “One state (Hawaii) requires him for a year and a half, 31 states require him for six months, and 10 states require him for little to no time.”

Civics education is a crisis we can solve.

Late Judge Sandra Day O’Connor Said: “The practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool. It must be taught and learned with each new generation.”

President Biden is scheduled to address a divided audience tonight. His State of the Union address should include a call for further education about democratic norms, constitutional principles, and the need for a common understanding of his role as an American citizen.

Tara D. Sonnenschein is a resident scholar at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.