The United States is the greatest nation on earth because of the
careful and tireless work of patriots like Washington,
Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Madison, and countless others. This
incredible group of patriots, filled with a deep and abiding
love for liberty and our new land, instilled in our young nation
the principles and ideals that have guided it for over 200
years. Unfortunately, for too long our schools have done a poor
job of teaching our children the civic information necessary to
prepare them to be active citizens in our society. On the most
recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics
Assessment, more than two-thirds of all American students scored
below proficient. This has led former Supreme Court Justice
Sandra Day O’Connor to declare that our country is facing a
“crisis in civic education.” Almost all students know the
Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 and that
George Washington was the first president of the United States.
However, students are sorely