Civics and Civility

Civic education teaches the historical, theoretical, practical, and political aspects of citizenship. For Christians, special attention is given to dual-citizenship. Civic education considers the roles, rights, responsibilities, and duties of citizenship. Attention will also be given to participation in private, public, social, religious, and cultural life within a range of groups, neighborhoods, social organizations, and even online interactions. The course will conform to a Paideia model of Classical education with a mini-lecture in every unit, academic coaching, and live seminar each week.

Course Objectives###

The student will be able to:

• Understand why the great American republican experiment is "a human achievement without parallel."
• Consider the factors and processes that shape people’s beliefs, affections, commitments, capabilities, and actions as members of socially configured communities.
• Understand the centrality of God and His Word to all social order, federal and local government by examining the Biblical purpose of governing authorities.
• Appreciate the basic relationship between social norms, customs, conventions and rule of law and order.
• Understand the definition of civil society.
• Examine the essential and central place of faith within a free society and the undeniable impact of faith on the American Experience.
• Identify the proper scope, nature and limits of the citizen and citizenry.
• Identify the proper scope, nature and limits of national and local governments.
• Explore a kingdom response to the pervasive cynicism and apathy coupled with the general decline in patriotic sentiment and civic engagement.

Texts###

• The Great Experiment: Faith and Freedom in America by Os Guinness, et al.
• Russell Kirk's Concise Guide to Conservatism
• What So Proudly We Hail: The American Soul in Story, Speech, and Song by Amy A. Kass & Leon R. Kass, et al.