What Do We Mean By Civics?
When we say civics, we refer to the study of the rights and responsibilities of American citizens and the function and powers of American government. Civics education should include our founding documents, key legislation, court systems, and the ways in which people can choose to participate in public life.
A healthy democracy depends on an informed and engaged citizenry. Students of civics should graduate high school with the means to inform their vote, direct their advocacy, and evaluate government policy at the federal, state, and local levels. Civics education should not, however, encourage students to be advocates for a specific cause, or to be advocates at all - it should merely give them the tools to do so if they so choose. Civics isn't about politics; it's about government, and students should know the difference.
THINC Foundation’s Perspective on Civil Dialogue
A thriving democracy requires a robust public square where citizens are exposed to and can debate a variety of ideas. Today, the American public square is being undermined by those who don’t understand – or don’t truly respect – the foundational principle of civil dialogue.
Some believe that engaging civilly with our fellow citizens is an antiquated principle that can be discarded in sufficiently urgent situations; others have even characterized calls for civility as manifestations of “white supremacy”.
We believe that civil dialogue, including respect for opposing points of view, is essential for our society to sustain productive conversations about culture, public policy, and the national interest.
Below is our perspective about principles for healthy civil dialogue and respectful discourse. These principles are designed to ensure that when followed, even those who may disagree intensely about important issues can engage respectfully with each other.
Different issues affect different people differently
Things you care about deeply may be trivial to others, and your own experiences cannot necessarily be universalized. Think about it – just because you had a bad experience at a restaurant doesn’t mean others haven’t had great meals there. You cannot expect others to care as much as you do about your preferred issues; if you want them to, you need to convince them civilly.
Conversations require more than one voice
If you want to shout at people, go to a protest. No matter how passionately you believe something, if you want to discuss it you must leave space for other perspectives. Shouting someone down, regardless of how repulsive you may find their convictions, precludes dialogue and is ultimately antidemocratic. We are fortunate to live in a country with free speech and should not deny others their right to speak freely; the answer to speech you dislike is more speech, not less.
Avoid ad hominem attacks
Let’s talk policy, not people. Name-calling raises the temperature and makes it harder to have a reasonable conversation. Make your points about peoples’ ideas, not their character. Remember that someone’s character is not necessarily related to the quality of their ideas.
Don't impute intention
None of us can read minds. Outside their statements, we often have no way to know what motivates people to think a certain way, so don’t assume that someone holds a position because of anything other than evidence. Asserting “you’re just saying that because…” is a great way to communicate that you’re not interested in discussing the issue at hand.
Describe, don't label
Labels are a trap in disagreements. Getting bogged down arguing over what to call something detracts from the opportunity to discuss the issue itself and is often not productive. Instead of trying to justify why someone should be called a racist, a fascist, a humanitarian, or a hero, talk about what they actually did and how it affected you and others. If you can reach common ground on that, you don’t need a label.
Peaceful protest is the only appropriate kind
Throughout America’s a long and proud history of public demonstrations, one undisputable thread has emerged: the most successful social movements achieve their goals by developing broad consensus through peaceful means. Americans of all backgrounds expect public safety and do not want to see it compromised by political grandstanding. It may be frustrating to vent one’s passions verbally rather than physically, but, as we teach children, it’s the right – and productive – thing to do.