SECRETARY OF STATE, UCA ANNOUNCE ARKANSAS CIVICS CURRICULUM PROJECT
Friday, Jun 29, 2007
Contact: Natasha Naragon
(501) 683-1441
(LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) - Arkansas Secretary of State Charlie Daniels and University of Central Arkansas President Lu Hardin today announced plans for the Arkansas Civics Curriculum Project, whose development committee is meeting this week at UCA.
The committee is working to develop Arkansas-specific civics lesson plans for students in kindergarten through 8th grade that will serve as a recommended guideline for the state’s civics and social studies teachers. The committee’s first meeting is currently underway at UCA from June 28th-30th. Other meetings will follow later this summer and fall.
This project is part of Secretary Daniels’s ongoing effort to educate young Arkansans about their state and the meaning of citizenship through civic education and young voter outreach programs.
“Good citizens aren’t just born—they’re cultivated,” said Secretary Daniels. “We want to take every opportunity possible to engage our youth in the political process and to teach them their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Imparting an understanding of the workings of government at the state and local level is an important part of civics education.”
Secretary Daniels said the curriculum development effort stemmed in part from his office’s experience offering statewide teacher workshops. Those workshops, called “Using the State Capitol to Teach,” provide teachers with classroom tools that center around Arkansas history and the Capitol building. Some of the broader-based national civics curriculum materials provided at the workshops needed a little more fine-tuning to increase their relevance in Arkansas classrooms.
“Teachers attending our workshops requested Arkansas-specific lesson plans that would satisfy our state’s changing social studies standards. This new curriculum will provide teachers with much-needed materials to facilitate lessons specific to our own great state’s history and heritage.” said Secretary Daniels.
"There is a crucial need for young people to receive a comprehensive education in government and citizenship, so that they are equipped to become active in their communities," said UCA President Lu Hardin. "UCA is proud to host this important civics curriculum development effort, and we are committed to contributing whatever resources are necessary to ensure its success."
"Civics is a required course for Arkansas students in our Smart Core curriculum because we know it is an integral part of an education for Arkansas students," said Dr. Ken James, Arkansas Commissioner of Education. "This session will provide an excellent opportunity for teachers to learn new ways to bring the subject matter alive in their classrooms."
The committee is structured into three parts: an advisory group, a K-4 teacher group, and a 5-8 teacher group. Dr. Clay Arnold, Chair of UCA’s Political Science Department, is serving as the Committee Chair. The members are as follows:
Advisory Group: Dr. Arnold, UCA; Lisa Herrington, Clinical Instructor, UCA; Kelly Lyon, UCA; Maggie Herrick, Arkansas Department of Education (ADE); Sheree Baird, ADE; Barbara Patty, Retired, ADE; Vickie Yates, Civics Specialist, ADE; and Ann Clements, Secretary of State’s office.
K-4 Development Group: Darlene Black, K-4 Gifted and Talented, Newport; Vicki Gonterman, K-5, International Studies, LRSD; Shirley Holloway, K, Retired, Bryant; Anthony Jackson, 3rd, Fordyce; Abby Stone, 1st, NLRSD; and Sharon Rogers, Cabot Public Schools.
5-8 Development Group: Lloyd Clark, 8th, US/AR History, Walnut Ridge; Phyllis Flowers, 5th, Bryant; Marilyn Frigga, 7th/8th, Pottsville; Jan Lloyd, Civics, Cabot; Tanesia Martin, 5th, LRSD; and Laura Beth Arnold, LRSD.
The committee expects to complete its work sometime this fall. The lesson plans should be available for use by Arkansas teachers by the end of the year.
The Arkansas Civics Curriculum Project is funded in part by grants from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the Center for Civic Education, along with in-kind contributions from the Secretary of State’s Office, UCA, and the Arkansas Department of Education.
