Legislature(2007 - 2008)CAPITOL 106
04/19/2007 03:30 PM House HEALTH, EDUCATION & SOCIAL SERVICES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SCR4 | |
| HCR6 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HCR 6 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SCR 4 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HCR 6-CIVICS EDUC/ CITIZENS ADVISORY TASK FORCE 3:50:14 PM CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 6, Relating to civics education and a citizens' advisory task force. TOM WRIGHT, Staff to Representative John Harris, Alaska State Legislature, presented HCR 6 on behalf of Representative Harris, sponsor by request of the Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB). He paraphrased from a prepared statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: HCR 6 follows the work of the Alaska Civic Learning Assessment Project. This group of 19 Alaskans from many walks of life agreed in a recent report that Alaska schools could improve civics learning among K- 12 students - indeed, that such an improvement is imperative to the health of our democracy - and made several recommendations for follow-up work. The citizen's advisory task force created by HCR 6 would help advance that follow-up work by focusing on well- articulated civics curriculum and effective professional development strategies for teachers, as well as review existing civics content standards. 3:52:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN asked whether civics courses are history courses. 3:52:09 PM CARL ROSE, Executive Director, Alaska Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB), answered that civics is very precise in terms of the governance of our country: history is history. He stressed that civics is critically important to a democracy and its neglect is borne out by less attention given to civic responsibilities and the impact seen now in [low] voting percentages. His experience is that civics is not commonly discussed and this resolution is critically important at this point in time. He said, "Democracy doesn't happen on its own. Democracy is learned. If we are not teaching it in our schools, I think we are subjecting our next, next generation to chance." Mr. Rose explained that this resolution allows for volunteer citizens, who have an interest in this subject, to examine the existing articulated curriculum and successful professional development opportunities and make recommendations for improvement. 3:54:01 PM CHAIR WILSON asked whether this resolution will create an unfunded mandate to schools. 3:54:28 PM MR. ROSE explained that the intent is to have volunteer citizens make recommendations to the legislature. This will not create a mandate, but will direct the volunteers to look at the existing standards and make recommendations, if necessary. He opined that this is information that would benefit the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development. Recommendations to better articulate the curriculum or to identify successful professional development will be made to schools; that is their responsibility. 3:55:23 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER recalled attending a civic engagement roundtable discussion at the University of Alaska where she realized that civic engagement is more than paying attention to government and voting; it involves a wide range of volunteer participation in the community, such as serving the community in a political way, and other activities. Civic engagement includes citizens who are uninterested in politics, but who are active in the community. She stated her support for SCR6. 3:56:47 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES observed that, at one time, there was concern that students were not being taught Alaska history. When teachers were told to teach more Alaska history, the reaction was that other subjects will be have to be cut; academic choices are limited by the number of required courses and exit exams. There are fewer academic options now. He stated his support for SCR6, but asked if the intent of this review is that more civics courses will become a graduation requirement. 3:57:51 PM MR. ROSE called the committee's attention to the report by the Alaska Civic Learning Assessment Project, Advancing Civic Learning in Alaska's Schools. Findings were that No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation has schools concentrating on reading, writing, and mathematics at the expense of other critical subjects. He opined that civics can be taught "across the curriculum"; it can be taught, and measured, as part of reading, writing, and math requirements. He recommended re-introducing civics in a feasible way and to elevate its importance. Mr. Rose opined that the concentration on reading, writing, and math in the last ten years has caused schools to neglect standards. 3:59:19 PM REPRESENTATIVE ROSES provided a personal history of his teaching that incorporated history, government, and civics. He recommended that civics be taught in middle school, before students have to accumulate credits for graduation from high school. He opined that middle school age is an especially appropriate time to be exposed to positive information about the student's community. 4:00:55 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER drew the correlation of Representative Roses's three years of civics courses in school and his service as a legislator. 4:01:22 PM REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA asked whether the recommendations will be a broad review of ideas. 4:01:50 PM MR. ROSE stated that he is speaking on behalf of retired teacher Mary Bristol, the state coordinator for civics, who would have the responsibility of organizing and administering this activity. He noted that there will be an outside source for funding the administration of the task force. The intent is to make a curriculum review and report back to the legislature and the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development as to how civic learning can be ingrained in education. The recommendations will include identifying appropriate grade levels and incorporating statewide and community civic activities as well. 4:03:23 PM CHAIR WILSON pointed out the omission of "writing" as one the subjects referred to in the sponsor statement. She asked whether Mr. Rose would object to the addition of "writing" into page 1, line 11 of the resolution. MR. WRIGHT said no. 4:04:01 PM CHAIR WILSON moved Amendment 1 that proposed on page 1, line 11, following the word "reading" inserting ", writing". Hearing no objection, Amendment 1 passed. 4:04:36 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN suggested everyone take the test on page 36 of the Alaska Civic Learning Assessment Project Report. 4:04:57 PM MR. WRIGHT explained one of the questions. 4:06:00 PM REPRESENTATIVE NEUMAN moved to report HCR 6,as amended, out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no further objection, CSHCR 6(HES) was so moved. 4:06:29 PM CHAIR WILSON announced the next meeting is scheduled on Tuesday.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|