Conference focuses on civics in schools

National and local leaders joined education officialsfrom 14 states at a conference in Louisville over the weekend to discuss the importance of restoring civic education in America's schools.

The three-day meeting let participants exchange ideas, share resources and develop materials promoting civic education, said Donna Shouse, a social studies consultant with the Kentucky Department of Education.

Annette Pitts, executive director of the Florida Civic Alliance, said in this era of high-stakes testing, civic education is being pushed to the side.

"We are trying to evaluate what is currently happening and we hope to advance public policy and enhance curriculum in all grade levels," Pitts said. "It's such an important task; if students don't know what the Constitution says or know how to be involved in a democratic system, we are at great risk of losing this form of government."

About 40 people attended the Southern Coalition on Civic Education and Engagement's conference at The Brown hotel, including Jefferson County Public Schools Superintendent Sheldon Berman, Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson and U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-3rd District.

"When you spend every day in a political system and you see a lack of understanding of how the process works, it is pretty obvious that we need to do a better job of educating citizens as to how their government works and what their responsibilities and opportunities are as citizens," Yarmuth said.