A Citizenship Class for High School Students: A New Vision

By Michael J. Jurkovic

Classroom instruction, at the high school level, in federal, state and local laws of the land in which we live in order to promote and encourage responsible citizenship in our graduating high school students is intended to both supplement and complement the Community of Character initiative.

by Michael J. Jurkovic [Phone: (925) 600-9964, Fax: mjj2@columbia.edu,

http://www.smartvoter.org/vote/jurkovic]

Candidate for Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Governors

Date: 9/26/03

At the PUSD Board of Governors Candidate's Forum sponsored by the League of Women's Voters of Livermore and Amador Valley and the Pleasanton PTA Council on September 16, 2003, I introduced the city of Pleasanton to what I believe is a new concept [1] in high school education. I again mentioned the idea [2] on September 23, 2003 at the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce Luncheon sponsored by the Pleasanton Weekly, at which time I called upon professionals such as lawyers to step forward to instruct students in what I called a Citizenship Class.

This concept, a Citizenship Class for senior high school students, is an idea I first conceived in October, 2002 as a proposed solution to the issue of, at first, addressing tolerance, diversity, morality, and religious indoctrination in public schools (this is not in reference to PUSD or any other school district). I quickly realized that it also applied to all aspects of the lives of all responsible citizens. I had presented this idea to an e-mail discussion group in order to address the fact that the public education system is not mandated to specifically teach in the areas of tolerance, diversity, morality, politics and religion as it is unconstitutional to do so. In the areas of ethics, diversity, tolerance, and morality, I believe it is of utmost importance to establish and maintain a suitable and safe environment on campus and to set an example of, and model for, character for each student and the community. However, I believe that to specifically instruct students on such things as the alternative lifestyles of same-sex couples outside of a public health context or to teach about the specifics of Catholicism, Islam or Hindu religions outside of a relevant historical context is unconstitutional and exceeds state mandates.

Setting the example and establishing and maintaining an appropriate environment on campus is exactly what the Community of Character initiative does and I applaud and fully support this effort. However, I feel it and the curriculum fall somewhat short in preparing students to be fully responsible citizens as graduating students are not specifically instructed to be knowledgeable of the laws of the land in which we live, which is something all responsible citizens should be expected to do. My observation is that many disputes occur due to ignorance of the law by one party or another and people sometimes exceed their rights, fail to recognize the rights of others, or fail to protect their own rights.

OK, so what is my vision of a Citizenship Class. Simply stated, a Citizenship Class is instruction at the high school level in the federal, state, and local laws by which we all live. This is not to be confused with a class that immigrants take when they become citizens. Subjects may include, but are by no means limited to, business law, tax law, criminal law, education law, labor and employment law, civil rights law, family law, civil law, and real estate law. It is an introduction to the laws that have influence over all aspects of our lives by which we must all abide, but of which few of us seem to have ample knowledge. I fully believe that every citizen of this country should at least have a basic knowledge of, and have had some formal education in, the federal, state, and local laws by which we all live. For example, each citizen living in this country is responsible for calculating and paying the appropriate tax when they earn income. I was fortunate to be introduced to several days of instruction in tax law as part of a high school economics class by a teacher who asked us not to tell anyone because you need to have a license to practice law or be a CPA to instruct in such things. (I think it's OK to tell now. It was quite some time ago, but thank you Mr. M. You've introduced me to a skill that relatively few people have as I see many people who, lacking the understanding, pass their tax forms on to entrusted professionals with little knowledge of what these professionals do for them.). High school is an appropriate time to be introduced to tax law. The tax strategy implemented at that time is usually simple and paves the way for understanding the more complicated situations and strategies that may be implemented later in life.

Why do we not currently introduce, formally, graduating students to the laws by which we are all expected to abide? We are all, for example, responsible for respecting the Civil Rights of others and are entitled to live free of discrimination and harassment. We are all entitled to freedom, expression, liberty and equal opportunity. A Citizenship Class would help ensure that students graduating from our district are more fully aware of the practical ramifications of their rights and are thus better able to defend themselves against illegal acts. This system of checks and balances is paramount to our way of life. At the same time, others who would otherwise commit illegal acts would be more aware of the legal and criminal ramifications of their possible behavior and be encouraged to act within the law. No matter where we live, there is a body of federal, state, and local laws that apply to us and I believe that each adult living in this country should have formal education, at least an introduction, to the federal, state and local laws of the land in which we live.

At the Candidate's Forum on September 16, we talked about a "world-class" school district. As a researcher, engineer, and project manager, I read technical publications and go to technical conferences. People in our profession know that world-class means that something practical, useful, and progressive is being accomplished that has never quite been achieved before. For example, in my mind, NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND means that our goal for PUSD is to reduce to ZERO the 9.5%, or 1000 or so students in our district that tested below basic level on 2003 standardized tests. This is a world-class goal and is something to strive for. In the same vein, I believe that this proposal for a Citizenship Class as part of the high school curriculum would quite possibly be a first in this country (or perhaps a close second). To introduce our graduating high school students to the laws of which we should all be knowledgeable for the purpose of producing responsible citizens is a world-class goal that we should strive for.

Please keep in mind, however, that I believe that this proposal should be prioritized appropriately among the very serious challenges that lie ahead for the Pleasanton Unified School District. It is in no way intended to supplant these priorities, especially in light of the budgetary situation. I understand it takes time, money, and effort to change a curriculum. It may be possible and more appropriate, at an early stage, to inject the proposed subject material into currently existing classes in a timeframe that is suitable or for professionals to volunteer to teach extra-curricular seminars, classes as electives, or adult education classes. I do, however, invite professionals in our community to step forward and state their intention to take the opportunity to instruct students in a Citizenship Class. I would most welcome them and all members of the community to join me in the opportunity to play a part in offering input, or suggesting an appropriate syllabus, in support of this vision I have for our children.

My platform and a full set of papers such as these will be made available at my candidate's information webspace at http://www.smartvoter.org/vote/jurkovic. So please check the web site regularly.

References

1. Here is a quote from Michael Jurkovic's statement at the Candidates Forum on September 16, 2003: "I firmly believe that all humans, regardless of such factors as race, sex, religion, and sexual preference, should have equal rights under the law. I also realize the unfortunate fact that some people will not like other people based on factors such as those stated above and that no amount of tolerance training can change some people's minds. I believe that the key to achieving true equality is to educate all people on the laws of the land in which we live. These laws include respecting the Civil rights of others, discrimination law, and introduction to tax law. I believe that students graduating from our district should be fully-functioning adult citizens of character who are knowledgeable of the federal, state, and local laws under which we live, who respect the Civil Rights of others regardless of sentiment, and who are knowledgeable of how to calculate and pay taxes on the income they earn. This goal can be achieved by a curriculum that includes a Citizenship Class that introduces students to these subjects. This formal education is in addition to the example set by the Community of Character initiative that was recently adopted by the district."

2. Here is a quote from Michael Jurkovic's statement at the Pleasanton Chamber of Commerce Luncheon of September 23, 2003: "The local business community already provides several experiences [to be successful in life and work] and I would encourage augmentation of this activity. For example, through the involvement with PPIE, through career awareness, aptitude surveys and career days. Arrival of guest speakers, field trips to businesses, and career shadowing cumulatively occur several times each year. Fostering more opportunities for internships and volunteer work for students (such as those listed in the Bay Area Volunteer's Handbook by Earthworks Press) would also be beneficial. In addition, I would favor programs for professionals to step forward and instruct students, such as lawyers instructing in a proposed Citizenship Class, where students are introduced to the federal, state, and local laws by which we live such as tax law and civil rights."