Civics education in American public schools began to significantly decline in the 1960s, leaving many students without any knowledge of how our government works and about the historical significance of events. With misinformation polluting social media, some believe that civics education should begin at home, with parents teaching their kids how to understand and navigate the system. It’s all laid out in a new book, “How to Raise a Citizen and Why It’s Up to You to Do It,” written by Lindsey Cormack and published by John Wiley and Sons.

Cormack joined NY1’s Errol Louis to discuss her book and the crucial role parents play in teaching their children about civics. They discussed the importance of understanding and navigating the political system, not only to facilitate voting but also to strengthen or save democracy. They also talked about how some families still feel it is taboo to talk about politics, and how efforts today can sow the seeds for a robust, vibrant democracy of tomorrow.

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