There’s been a lot of call lately for more and better civics education.
Greater Spokane, Incorporated cites that for its participation this spring in the National Civics Bee, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
It’s like the National Spelling Bee, but with a focus on how government works. The bee will feature students from nine states, including Washington.
“It’s aimed at getting middle schoolers more informed about the civics process, how to be involved as citizens and with an overall vision of creating a more actively-engaged citizenship with the policy-making process," said Jake Mayson, the director of public policy at Greater Spokane.
The Spokane Valley Chamber is also a local co-sponsor.
Students can apply to participate in the Civics Bee by going to the U.S. Chamber Foundation website. They’ll be asked to register and write an essay. Mayson says those will be judged by local volunteers. The writers of the best essays will be invited to participate in a competitive event later this spring, likely at KSPS Public Television. The top three finishers in that event will move on to a statewide competition.
Mayson says it’s a fun way to engage students in the political process.
“We’re finding more and more that the folks who are well equipped to engage in the civics process to be involved in policy making, whether it’s at the local, state or federal level, that a real understanding of how to engage in the process is something that’s going to help with this overall division that we have going on in politics today," he said.
Mayson says the two local groups are reaching out to schools and teachers. The application deadline is February 24.
You can test your own knowledge of civics here.
