civics

I recently spent an evening at Springfield’s Dubois Elementary, with a group of tutors focused on helping the school’s youngest students — kindergarten…

A new state law requires that high school civics courses cover current and controversial events. The requirement kicked in during an election cycle when…

Illinois is one of only 10 states where students are not required to take a civics course. A task force of legislators and educators now recommends that…

Civil society is on the tips of many tongues these days. This shouldn't surprise us — not in the American democracy. American civic life was not…

Jean Bethke Elshtain argues that we need more religion in politics. Her essay on this point is timely. And we expect it will be controversial. At least we…

Once or twice a year I got together with former Gov. William Stratton, who had been on the Illinois Issues Board since 1978. He liked to joke that…

The Auburn Rotary Club disbanded last summer. The few remaining members were getting older and having trouble recruiting younger people. The club folded,…

My feeling about this new year differs from the last few, when January 1 meant little more than waking up for another day. I sense more urgency, but maybe…