
Democracy & Z
One Nation, Under Curriculum? Thomas Jefferson, Noah Webster, and Debating Civic Education
<p >Nathan S. French & Kenlea Barnes, Miami University</p> <p >Imagine walking into two American public school classrooms today.</p> <p >In the first classroom, students study histories of the framers of the U.S. Constitution, review important laws and quotes from historic speeches. They hear praise for national heroes who embodied patriotic values such as bravery, courage, and honesty. These students study biblical scriptures and philosophical texts to learn about the morals that informed the creation of the early republic. From these virtues and examples, they are taught that responsible citizens respect their country, its laws, its institutions, and...





