LWVKY Opposes HB 60 and 69

August 2021

LWVKY Opposes HB 60 and 69
LWVKY has an abiding commitment to citizenship education. The League  believes that schools have a crucial role in preparing students to be informed and engaged citizens.  Civics education should focus on knowledge and understanding of governments - local, state and national--  including their structures, functions and effects.

Effective civics education includes preparing students with the skills to participate critically and solve problems in civic life and it provides practice for students working cooperatively in a community of citizens with rights and responsibilities.  Civics education should be integrated with history, geography and economics instruction through elementary, middle and high school instruction. An additional course(or courses) in civics or government should be available in high school to further prepare students for their roles as citizens.

When students graduate from high school, they should have acquired:

• knowledge to influence the legislative process on issues of importance to themselves and others

• motivation to be responsible citizens involved in providing for the general welfare

• skills, inclinations and self-confidence to participate as informed citizens in the electoral, legislative, judicial and administrative processes of government

• process skills to work on projects cooperatively in various size group activities

• sufficient background knowledge of history and politics to understand the effects of voting on their own and others' lives

Based on this lasting commitment, the LWVKY opposes Kentucky State Bill Requests 60 and 69. We believe those proposed bills would substantially impair robust engagement with American history and effective preparation of young Kentuckians for citizenship and democracy.