How do you teach civics when all hell is breaking loose? 

Civics used to teach that we live in a democracy and what we have to do to maintain that. 

Now these courses need to teach that we live under authoritarianism and what we have to do to stop it

Remember those civics courses you took in school? Probably not. Because they were not memorable. 

You were there because you had to be. They were like those awful, plain vanilla “Do’s and Don’t’s of Dating” — like movies you had to watch in family living class.

Until now school civics courses have existed as a kind of benevolently useful fairyland giving young citizens knowledge about the nuts and bolts of American politics: the separation of powers, how a bill becomes a law, reasons for becoming an engaged citizen.

Civics education has had a cleansed, pollyannish tone: A recent book, “Politics Like You Were Five,” states, “The government actively works to safeguard both the rights and liberties of its citizens. Public authorities draft laws through which they establish fairness and equality for every member of society.”

That’s not an analysis. It’s a 1950s Boy Scout Junior Jamboree Fourth of July speech.

The courses worked because politicians generally followed, or at least aspired to, the basic rules of the game, so the difference between rules and reality were at least manageable.

There was also a public consensus about these rules. Elections were lost, not “stolen.” People on the other side were seen as different, not evil or looney.

Civics courses were supposed to be aspirational. Give the kids a break before they hit the real world. They will see the warts soon enough.

Until now, when all of this has broken down. When, as the headline on David Brooks’ recent article says, “What’s Happening Is Not Normal. America Needs an Uprising That Is Not Normal.”

Donʻt Avoid The Word ʻResistanceʻ

The U.S. is rapidly becoming less democratic and more authoritarian.

Trump’s actions so far in his first 100 days have been an attack on the separation of powers and the rule of law. He has tried, with much success already, to carve out issues formerly dealt with by the law and make them his prerogative. Rules for us, but not for him. That goes far beyond a strong executive and moves well down the path of authoritarianism.

The scope of this assault is breathtaking. Most of all, it’s so comprehensive. Try to think of anything that has not been touched.

K-12 education is certainly feeling the impact. Schools are in the same boat as all these other institutions.

Brooks offers a plan to fight back.

“It’s time for a comprehensive national civic uprising,” he writes. “It’s time for Americans in universities, law, business, nonprofits and the scientific community, and civil servants and beyond to form one coordinated mass movement.”

He has a lot more to say about his plan. It’s thoughtful, comprehensive and very moderate. You can quibble with the details of his strategy, but for sure, he’s right about the need to band together to resist. 

The schools have to be part of the resistance, or they will lose control to the authoritarian project.

Trump’s assault should be a game-changer for civics courses. The formalistic, optimistic discussions of the separation of powers and the rule of law along with the assumptions that things work pretty much as they are described on paper goes out the window.

It would be worse than naïve if civics courses describe American politics working in ways that fly in the face of everything going on around them. That’s dishonest and complicit.

Itʻs Back To The Drawing Board

Yes, schools are different. Teachers have norms of fairness, objectivity and openness that affect the way civics courses should be taught.

At the same time, schools need to be part of the resistance. Civics courses need to start with this stance, rather than the usual viewpoint that emphasizes only a very narrow set of options as ways to engage government.

And they need to teach more about resistance strategies, all the way from litigation to the concept of — not necessarily advocacy for — civil disobedience. 

“Good morning, class. Hope you had a good summer. No cell phones please. This course is going to be about democracy and authoritarianism, but especially about authoritarianism because that’s what America is becoming. You’ll learn how and why and what can be done to stop that. Now, take out your notebooks and write me a …”

Exploring unconventional ways to respond is the crucial role civics courses can play in the broad coalition of resisters.

The experts in the civics education business need to go back to the drawing board to redesign courses with this new political situation in mind. It’s no longer simply about requiring civics courses or the good-old-days versions of teaching about democracy.

The broad coalition of resistance has to recognize the special challenges and vulnerabilities K-12 schools have. Imagine encouraging students to consider civil disobedience rather than taking them to visit their Legislature to see how a bill becomes a law. Now, imagine how controversial that would be.

So, the coalition of resistance has to recognize the particular norms and values that teachers need to follow and then protect them accordingly. They, including the universities, big-shot law firms and many others have to come forward and do this.

It’s absolutely critical that teachers get to maintain these differences and incorporate them into the anti-authoritarian curriculum and teaching methods. 

At the same time, civics teachers may be holding resistance workshops, they also need to model their teaching methods in ways we expect from schools: tolerance, civility, encouraging diverse opinions and respecting them, not letting your own passion and advocacy get out of hand.

Hard job? No kidding! Impossible? Maybe. Still, it’s absolutely essential to try. 

Fighting back may not be enough to save and protect schools, or the country for that matter, from the assault. It’s full of risks.

The Old Curriculum Is Wrong

Still, the full-on attack on American institutions is relentless. Schools had been a target well before Trump, but it will ratchet up even more as the assault becomes broader and more coordinated.

“Public authorities draft laws through which they establish fairness and equality for every member of society,” states that book for students. 

Really? Come on. That’s wrong for two reasons. The new Trump strategy does not rely on passing laws at all. 

And the idea that it’s about fairness and equality? No, it’s about the consolidation of power into the hands of one person.

Assuming that the rule of law operates the way it says on paper is an awful mistake that weakens democracy even more. 

Looking at how the rule of law is supposed to work, comparing that to what’s really going on, is right. And exploring unconventional ways to respond is the crucial role civics courses can play in the broad coalition of resisters.