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Raising College-Ready Citizens: Empowering Teens with Civic Education and Engagement with Professor Lindsey Cormack
About this Episode
In this insightful episode, Shellee Howard welcomes Professor Lindsey Cormack to discuss the importance of raising informed and engaged citizens. As a political science professor at Stevens Institute of Technology and author of the book *How to Raise a Citizen*, Lindsey shares her experiences and research on how parents can foster civic responsibility in their children. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including education, the role of social media, and practical steps for parents to prepare their children for active citizenship.
Key Takeaways:
1. Importance of Civic Education:
- Lindsey emphasizes the need for parents to step in where schools may fall short in providing comprehensive civic education. She highlights that most U.S. students receive limited education on government, often only in their senior year, which may not be sufficient for understanding and participating in the political system.
2. Raising Engaged Citizens:
- Lindsey’s book, *How to Raise a Citizen*, is aimed at parents, caregivers, and educators who want to equip their children with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate and influence the political system. The book also addresses the mental health and college admission benefits of being an informed and engaged citizen.
3. Starting the Conversation at Home:
- Lindsey suggests that parents initiate political discussions with their children by asking open-ended questions like, “What have you heard about this?” This approach helps avoid confrontations and encourages a healthy exchange of ideas, especially when dealing with information from social media platforms like TikTok.
4. Social Media and Political Content:
- The conversation highlights the challenge of dealing with political content on social media. Lindsey recommends that parents engage with their children by asking them to share what they’re seeing online and discussing it together, fostering critical thinking and a better understanding of different perspectives.
5. Preparing for College and Beyond:
- Parents are encouraged to help their children register to vote, understand the different levels of government, and read the U.S. Constitution to better prepare them for active citizenship and the college experience. These steps can also ease the transition to college by fostering socialization and involvement in community activities.
6. Practical Tips for Parents:
- Lindsey provides actionable advice for parents, such as helping their teens register to vote early, encouraging them to participate in local politics, and facilitating conversations about political processes. These efforts help build the skills needed for college success and lifelong civic engagement.
Closing Thoughts:
Shellee and Lindsey conclude the episode by encouraging parents to take an active role in their children’s civic education. By fostering an understanding of government and politics early on, parents can help their children become informed, engaged citizens who are well-prepared for college and beyond.
About Lindsey: Lindsey Cormack is an associate professor of Political Science and Director of the Diplomacy Lab at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. She earned her PhD in Government from New York University and is raising a daughter on the Upper East Side. She currently serves as the Secretary for Community Board 8 in Manhattan. She created and maintains the digital database of all official Congress-to-constituent e-newsletters in the DCInbox Project. Her research has been published in Political Behavior, Congress & the Presidency, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Science Research and Methods, American Politics Research, Politics & Policy, Politics Groups & Identities, Politics & Gender, The Journal of Gender Studies, Energy Economics, The Legislative Scholar as well as in popular outlets including the New York Times, The Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight, ProPublica, Roll Call, The New York Post, The Conversation, NBC News, the LSE USCentre, The Hill, and more.
Connect with Lindsey:
Connect with Shellee:
Email: [email protected]
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