Schools Should Teach Civics Instead of Organizing Anti-ICE Protests
Source: Nicholas Giordano. "My Students Protesting ICE Cannot Pass U.S. Citizenship Exam." February 17, 2026. thefederalist.com
The Gist
The author argues that schools are failing their basic job of teaching students about government and civics, yet they're organizing political protests about issues students don't understand. He believes schools should focus on education instead of activism because ignorant citizens can't sustain democracy.
Conclusion
Public schools should abandon political activism and return to their core educational mission of teaching knowledge and civics
Premises
- Schools are closing to organize anti-ICE protests instead of focusing on education
- Only 25% of American students can read, write, or do math at grade level according to NAEP data
- Only 13% of eighth-graders are proficient in American history and 22% in civics
- Most of the author's 200 students cannot pass a basic citizenship exam, with results worsening over 20 years
- Students who don't understand civics and constitutional principles can be easily manipulated into political activism
- Schools are using emotion rather than knowledge to shape political beliefs and manufacture outrage
- These civically ignorant students will become future voters and leaders who lack knowledge to sustain constitutional government
Assumptions
- Political activism in schools is inherently harmful to education
- Civic knowledge is essential for democratic participation
- Schools' primary purpose should be academic instruction rather than political engagement
- Current anti-ICE protests represent illegitimate political manipulation rather than genuine civic engagement
- There is a clear distinction between appropriate civic education and inappropriate political activism