Message from the Director
The founders of the United States believed strongly in public education’s role in fostering the habits of mind, and the dispositions of the heart, required for successful participation in a constitutional republic. This is reflected in the words of Thomas Jefferson:
For 200-plus years, Americans continued to support this civic mission of public schools. However, the last 15 years have seen a sea-change in these attitudes. In 2016, only 25% of Americans believed the main purpose of public schools was preparation for citizenship (PDK/Gallup, 2016). These changing attitudes are especially concerning given the current political landscape.
The Ackerman Center seeks to integrate civic and economic education in K-12 classrooms in an attempt to promote this civic mission of schools and to provide programs, and resources for educators to implement more powerful citizenship education that results in active student involvement in their schools and communities.
Our goal is to help prepare students to take on the highest office in the land…that of citizen!
