Back to Basics: America’s Founding, Civics, and Self-Government in K-12 Curricula

“Curriculum that both acknowledges the horrors of slavery while also honoring the indispensable role of America’s founding principles to ensure its eradication is the kind of comprehensive and factual educational content that exemplifies the purpose of this hearing: to uphold curricula that teach America’s founding, present accurate information, and promote civic virtue in a self-governing society.”

AEI Senior Fellow Ian Rowe testified before the US House Education and Workforce Committee on December 4, 2024, alongside Dr. Jed Atkins, Director and Dean, School of Civic Life and Leadership, University of North Carolina; Brian V. Kennedy, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; and Michael Weiser, Chair of the Board of Directors, Jack Miller Center. The panel discussed civics education and the role of curriculum in K-12 education.

Watch the full testimony here (testimony begins at 26:25).