Call From the Youth: We Only Know What We Hear | Piper Beck | TEDxPaul Laurence Dunbar HS Youth

Civic Education Landscape - The research indicates a potential gap in civic education in Kentucky, with limited existing research specifically addressing the state's situation [1] - A 2020 study by the Brookings Institute suggested that 17% of survey respondents felt their vote had no potential importance to the outcome of their country [1] - The study highlights the importance of civic education, suggesting that what students learn in schools translates to their behavior in public and future politics [1] Student Perspectives - Surveys of 220 high school students (16-18 year olds) in Kentucky showed that the majority stated at least one class talked about civics during the school year, with less than 5% saying none of their classes did [1] - The majority of students indicated that elections were mentioned often or occasionally in class [2] - While most students reported that their school offered civic activities, 72% almost said they did not engage with those extracurricular activities [2] - 232% of students indicated that teachers' personal politics somewhat affected the way they think about things [2] Teacher Perspectives - Teacher interviews revealed that government and politics education is considered important by high school districts, but not the primary focus [2] - Teachers generally believe that students learn enough about politics and history to reliably follow election campaigns and vote accordingly [2] - Teachers generally do not believe that common curriculum reflects bias in regards to what changes may be made to the education system partisanly [2] - Many teachers noted that student engagement has increased over time, but may decrease if American politics returns to normal [3][4] - Most teachers expressed confidence that their students will vote in the future and that there is an open-minded environment among students [5][6]