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Teaching the Idea of America

6406 Review Cover for Package

Colleges have a vital role to play in preparing students to become active and informed citizens. How well are they performing that function? The 2016 election escalated longstanding concerns about the state of civic education. This package of essays from The Chronicle Review considers what’s gone wrong, and what colleges can do to strengthen our democracy.

The Review
Colleges have fallen short on one of their most important missions.
The Chronicle Review
By Geoffrey Galt Harpham
Divining the meaning of a text isn’t a frivolous act — it’s an essential skill in an enlightened democracy.
The Review
Reversing the disintegration of the curriculum is the first step in restoring the American idea.
The Chronicle Review
By Alice Dreger
It’s up to the academy to create citizens moved by more than tribe and gut.