Between the tuition hike and the pay increase for the San Diego State University President something else happened at the CSU Board of Trustees meeting. It has not been reported in the press, but it is a change of somewhat historic proportions.
Prodded by Chancellor Reed, the CSU took the first step toward abrogating its commitment to the civic education of all CSU students.
In a unanimous vote of the Board the requirement that students receive instruction in the history and politics of the United States. The American Institutions requirement has been a staple of the CSU general education curriculum since the inception of the the system.
Despite the objections of hundreds of CSU and community college faculty throughout the state who offered a full-throated and highly cogent defense, the proposal passed without substantive debate.
While the initial policy proposal applies only to “high unit majors,” it will not be long before other degree programs seek to free students from this “burdensome” requirement to learn about the history and politics of their country.
In the definitive paper on the subject Duke political scientist Sunshine Hillygus demonstrates that “the content of higher education, especially a curriculum that develops language and civic skills, is influential in shaping participation in American democracy.” That is, students exposed to civic education, are more likely to vote and otherwise participate in the civic life of the US.
Increased numbers of courses in science and business actually reduce the likelihood of civic participation. Ironically, these are the very majors that will most likely waive the American institutions requirement for their students.
Given the economic and political crises facing the country this is yet another ill-timed decision by the CSU Board of Trustees. The video (click below) illustrates the dire need for students to get an adequate grounding in the history and politics of the United States. In the future these are the kinds of fundamental mistakes we can look forward to CSU students making.
