To Our
Members

Decisions in Albany. Debates in Washington. School board meetings that turn into national headlines. Information moving faster than facts.

And in the middle of it all are our students — absorbing it, questioning it, trying to figure out what’s true and what isn’t.

That’s why civics education, including media literacy, must be a priority.

Because democracy today doesn’t just operate in legislative chambers. It operates in algorithms. It operates in timelines and trending topics. If young people cannot evaluate sources, detect bias, verify information, and understand how narratives are shaped, then we are asking them to participate in a system they haven’t been fully prepared to navigate.

And we have to acknowledge something important.

After No Child Left Behind, schools across this country dramatically reduced the time devoted to social studies, particularly in elementary grades. In many districts, minutes spent on civics and history dropped sharply as tested subjects took center stage. What wasn’t tested was too often pushed aside.

We narrowed the focus. And in many places, we narrowed students’ exposure to civic learning.

Now, in an era defined by misinformation and polarization, we’re seeing the impact of that shift.

Too many students graduate without a strong foundation in how the government works, how policy shapes their lives, or how to separate credible information from manipulation. That is not a reflection of educators’ commitment. It is the result of policy choices that deprioritized civic learning.

But here’s what I know. In classrooms across New York, educators continue to create space for students to ask hard questions, examine multiple perspectives, analyze primary sources, and debate respectfully — even when time is limited and pressures are high. That work matters. It always has.

Members of NYSUT model this every day. You organize. You advocate. You participate. You show students that citizenship is not passive; it is active, informed, and grounded in integrity. And our students are watching.

As our nation marks its 250th anniversary, this moment should not simply be about celebration. It should be about recommitment to preparing young people not just to inherit democracy — but to sustain it. If we want a generation that can lead with discernment instead of division, with courage instead of confusion, we must give them the tools.

And I believe that together, we can.

In solidarity,
Melinda

@MelindaJPerson
MelindaJPerson