Americans don’t know enough about our government. We can teach our kids to fix that | Opinion

Many Americans feel that our politics are more polarized than ever. While we aren’t as ideologically divided as it might seem, emotional polarization has reached unprecedented levels, coupled with rising isolation and record mental health challenges. In 2021, the U.S. surgeon general warned of the severe impact of mental health challenges on youth, and later declared an “epidemic of loneliness”.

Contributing to this polarization is the decline in civics education. It’s much easier to be mad about something when you don’t understand how it works — and more and more children don’t understand how our government works. In the United States, there is no standardized approach to teaching civics. Each state controls how subjects like social studies and U.S. government are taught, with most curricular decisions being made locally.

Surveys show that social studies teachers agree: Students aren’t learning enough about government. And the research backs it up. Only 25% of Americans can name the three branches of government, and public trust in government is at historic lows. More troubling is that more Americans report disliking politics now, more than ever before.

Twenty-five years ago, Robert Putnam’s book “Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community” highlighted a decline in social capital — networks of relationships essential for society’s functioning — in the latter half of the 20th century. This decline is directly linked to reduced civic and political engagement. As social connections weakened, trust and participation in politics waned, harming democracy and community cohesion. Now, in 2024, much of the country remains undereducated in how our political systems work, and there are fewer social connections and activities to provide the social capital to understand and care about our wider communities.

Fortunately, there are strategies to reduce polarization and isolation. The surgeon general’s report outlines ways to advance social connection. Putnam advocates for joining social and civic organizations, and in a new book, Kansas City native Lindsey Cormack emphasizes the importance of talking about politics and government with our kids. “How to Raise a Citizen (And Why It’s Up to You to Do It)“ argues that the absence of political knowledge directly affects participation, particularly among young voters.

Without understanding how the electoral system works, people are less likely to participate in conversations and important matters such as local, state and primary elections — and this disengagement harms our democracy. Moreover, outdated norms discourage political conversations, further alienating citizens from engaging in meaningful discourse.

Avoiding political discussions — or only focusing on the negatives (which is prominent in U.S. political narratives) — is detrimental to both our children’s future and the health of our republic. Talking about politics with our kids prepares them for the political world they are growing into and serves to strengthen our bond with them.

Major issues such as anxiety and depression often stem from feelings of hopelessness, and political headlines can amplify these emotions. But by equipping our children with tools to navigate the political landscape, we can empower them to engage in the path forward. Encouraging our children get involved and be informed about politics at a young age, rather than dismissing politics as a whole as a rigged game they have no influence over, inspires action instead of negativity or apathy.

Engaging in politics and government — especially at the local, in person level — provides purpose, agency and oftentimes efficacy by being part of the solution instead of sitting idly by. Understanding political facts and the issues at hand reduces the stress and anxiety around the unknown, and helps children and their caregivers navigate misinformation and differentiate between bias in the media landscape. Learning to engage in respectful political discourse at a young age reduces conflict and isolation and sets our children up for success as adults.

Our children look to us for guidance, both in what we say and do and what we stay quiet about. Engaging with them early provides them with the tools to change the divisive cycle we’re in and prepares them to navigate and lead the difficult conversations that will drive us toward a healthier democracy.

Tricia Maxfield is the program director of American Public Square, a community organization devoted to the ideals of a civil society. She co-authored this with author Lindsey Cormack, who will be the featured guest at two upcoming events hosted by American Public Square. Learn more at americanpublicsquare.org/events