Political LiteracyPolitical LiteracyPresented by Jennifer MeltzerPresented by Jennifer Meltzer

2/18/092/18/09

What is political literacy?What is political literacy?

►being politically aware and effectivebeing politically aware and effective► It is about having the ability to read It is about having the ability to read

about issues and events from a about issues and events from a political perspective. political perspective.

►This means using the ideas, language, This means using the ideas, language, forms of thought, and arguments forms of thought, and arguments which citizens use when dealing with a which citizens use when dealing with a public issue. public issue.

Other types or ideas?Other types or ideas?

Historically, there has been a connection Historically, there has been a connection between:between:

► military service and citizenshipmilitary service and citizenship

►communal obligationcommunal obligation

What does being an LMS in the 21What does being an LMS in the 21stst century mean regarding political century mean regarding political

literacy?literacy?

►We need to be aware that political We need to be aware that political literacy is on the decline.literacy is on the decline.

►MacFarlane believes that this trend MacFarlane believes that this trend of political apathy stems from a of political apathy stems from a distrust or lack of faith in political distrust or lack of faith in political institutions. institutions.

Additional facts/ implications: Additional facts/ implications:

►It is also said to stem from a It is also said to stem from a currently large gap between the currently large gap between the public and private domains of public and private domains of society. society.

►Political literacy is crucial for every Political literacy is crucial for every citizen, not just politicians, since citizen, not just politicians, since the goings-on in politics has a the goings-on in politics has a direct effect on everybody.direct effect on everybody.

How do we solve the How do we solve the problem?problem?

►organizations have been established organizations have been established whose main goal is to combat political whose main goal is to combat political illiteracy, such the Council on Civil illiteracy, such the Council on Civil Society. Society.

►Support social studies curriculum. (Ex. Support social studies curriculum. (Ex. HSA review guides, etc.)HSA review guides, etc.)

►Newspapers, journals, other periodicals Newspapers, journals, other periodicals should be kept current and organizedshould be kept current and organized

►http://www.recovery.gov/

Reference:Reference:

►Macfarlane, B. (2005, October). The Macfarlane, B. (2005, October). The Disengaged Academic: the Retreat Disengaged Academic: the Retreat from Citizenship. from Citizenship. Higher Education Higher Education QuarterlyQuarterly, , 5959(4), 296-312. Retrieved (4), 296-312. Retrieved February 17, 2009, February 17, 2009, doi:10.1111/j.1468-2273.2005.00299.xdoi:10.1111/j.1468-2273.2005.00299.x