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Press Release
McCormick Foundation’s Freedom Museum Holds
Conference To Promote Civic Education In Schools
Educators and policy-makers construct Civic Education Blueprint for Illinois schools to
prepare, and inspire young people to be responsible, informed, and engaged citizens throughout their lifetime
Contact: Abby Taylor
ATaylor@McCormickTribune.org
312 222 3188
Chicago, Jan. 30, 2009
As Illinois prepares to celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, a
president who gave his life for the furtherance of democracy in the United
States, the McCormick Foundation‘s Freedom Museum, in partnership with the
Illinois Civic Mission Coalition, hosts a conference to return civics to a
central place in schools statewide. Coupled with President Obama’s historic
inauguration and the unprecedented involvement of young people in the recent
election, we believe this is the perfect time to capitalize on this excitement
and channel this interest into a lifelong commitment to civic engagement.
“The McCormick Foundation’s mission is to ignite the sprit of service
and prepare, enable and inspire individuals and organizations to become
more actively engaged in their communities,” said Dave Anderson, executive
director, Freedom Museum. “Reincorporating civics into the curricula
of our elementary and secondary schools is vital to advancing our mission
and sustaining democracy in Illinois and beyond.”
Public schools were created in America with the primary purpose of
preparing children to participate constructively as adult citizens in our
democracy. Recent school reform efforts have focused primarily on
improving student achievement in reading, math and science. The result of
this emphasis is that the historical function of the American public
school—to educate students for democratic participation and citizenship—has
been pushed aside. Like millions of their peers across the country, most
Illinois high school students lack sufficient formal instruction and
opportunities for the development of civic literary that enables democratic
engagement.
This conference, held February 8-10 at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, Illinois,
is bringing together the public and private sectors--Illinois policymakers,
state legislators, civic education leaders, researchers, teachers and students
to create a civic blueprint for Illinois high schools so that no child is
left behind in civic education. Confirmed attendees include Dr. Diana Hess,
professor of education, University of Wisconsin; Dr. Joseph Kahne, professor
of education, Mills College; Ted McConnell, executive director, National
Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools; Jesse Ruiz, chairman, Illinois
State Board of Education; and Judge Diane Wood, U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Seventh Circuit.
“Illinois has some outstanding examples of high schools committed to the civic
mission of schools. Five high schools have already been recognized as Democracy
Schools by the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition, said Carolyn Pereira, chair,
Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and executive director, Constitutional Rights
Foundation Chicago. "These schools are determined to expand and improve
their civic learning opportunities to all of their students. Our goal, along
with the Freedom Museum, is to increase the number of Democracy Schools in Illinois,
working with the stakeholders to create policies so that all Illinois high schools
will be 'Democracy Schools,'” Pereira said.
For additional information on this initiative please visit,
www.crfc.org/programs/civicmission.php.
If you are interested in attending the conference or receiving a report generated following the conference, please contact Abby Taylor at 312 222 3188 or
ATaylor@McCormickFoundation.org.
About the McCormick Foundation
The McCormick Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to strengthening
our free, democratic society by investing in children, communities and country.
Through its five grantmaking programs, Cantigny Park and Golf, and three world-class
museums, the Foundation helps build a more active and engaged citizenry. The Foundation
was established as a charitable trust in 1955, upon the death of Colonel Robert R.
McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The Foundation
is one of the nation’s largest charities, with $1.2 billion in assets.
About the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition
The Illinois Civic Mission Coalition is a broad, non-partisan consortium
including educators, administrators, students, universities, funders, elected
officials, policymakers, and representatives from the private and non-profit
sectors. Formed in 2004, its purpose is to create consensus among civic education
advocates across Illinois relative to achievable goals, the means of attaining them,
and the underlying rationale for the restoration of the civic mission
of high schools statewide.
For more information about this conference, log onto
www.FreedomMuseum.US or the McCormick Foundation at
www.McCormickFoundation.org.
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