With vision, leadership and sufficient efforts on the ground, we can muster the political will to plant “the Utah way” in the hearts and minds of future generations.

So if a destructive CRT ban is at best a partial policy solution – which may ultimately prove ineffective – what are the alternative (or perhaps additional) policy options that leaders should consider?

NPR recently published a news story about a Fordham Institute report rating state K-12 civics and history standards across the U.S. based on their content, rigor, clarity and organization. Utah was rated “mediocre” with a C grade in both areas.

A recently released opinion survey of parents and teachers in Utah found broad support for civics education reform that prioritizes civics and history education on par with math and language arts. But is that also true for Utah’s communities of color?

Clearly, curriculum transparency can provide a useful tool for parents who want to ensure that their children are getting the best education possible. But it can also be done in ways that help make teachers’ jobs easier as well.

Of course, while there are problems with CRT, the real source of our problems is the need to reform civics education in Utah.

Now is the time to respond with a reprioritization of citizenship, not indoctrination, with a sequential, accurate, consistent and complete study of history, civics and government, one that allows for all perspectives – past and present – with critical thinking as the backdrop.

The famous Bill of Rights is simply the first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the United States. It is considered to be the codification of some of the most fundamental individual rights, so fundamental, in fact, that there was debate as to whether it was even necessary to draft. This is part 3 in Sutherland’s new series highlighting primary sources from American history in the hopes of enriching civics education.

There is a difference between uninformed, misinformed and disinformed. None are ideal in preserving self-government.

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. This founding document – created on Sept. 17, 1787 – lays out the rules, organization and operations of our government. This is part 2 in Sutherland’s new series highlighting primary sources from American history in the hopes of enriching civics education.