THE POWER OF CITIZENSHIP

I don't know about any of you but when I was in the 7th grade (that was many years ago!) we had the most wonderful teacher, Ray J. Gray, and he taught Civics.  Mr. Gray was a short round man with chipmunk cheeks and while we all laughed at him at times we all came to love him.  We learned all about how government works and the power of the vote.  He was passionate about this topic.
When our class had its 50th reunion the group that I hung out with all were there and we shared life experiences and then talked about school.  Each and everyone of us talked about Mr. Gray and the impact he had on our lives.  We all acknowledged that we never miss an election and the opportunity to make our voices heard.  This is the impact that a good teacher can have.
I believe that passion for Civics and the power of our voices is missing in our schools.  We took that class for one half of the year and the other half was Geography.  How many kids now know what is east and west of the Mississippi or what the state capitals are and where the states are located?  How many kids understand how important it is to become a lifelong voter and to participate in the government at a local, state or national level.  Does anyone really care anymore?  If they don't care then we are in bigger trouble than I thought.
I could go on and one about what I believe should be taught in schools but that would take a book!!
Speaking of books, the title of this post comes from a new book written by Scott Reich titled The Power of Citizenship.  He takes off from the words by John F. Kennedy.  "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country."  How can we make those words come to life for today's young people?  We need to try.  While I have not read Reich's book I am ordering it.  I saw him interviewed and he exhibits the same passion that Mr. Gray did for the power of citizenship.
Mr. Gray passed on a few years ago but his memory and passion stayed with at least 20 of us and I suspect many more too and continues on today.  In that small group of people who gathered many are bloggers or journalists or have important jobs but all are active in some way in the political process.
I wish for our students and other young people to be imbued with that same passion as I believe that is the only way we can save our democracy.