Evidence Won't Fix This: Teaching in an Era of Democratic Backsliding

• In Event: Teaching About Controversial Topics in Contentious Times

Abstract

This paper describes the challenges teachers face in the current political and cultural context in the US. Framing our inquiry within the contours of democratic backsliding, we argue that civic education requires a re-orientation away from reliance on evidence-based strategies and toward responses that can more effectively counter direct attacks on democratic norms.

Authors

• Mardi Schmeichel, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• H. James Garrett, University of Georgia

• Christopher H. Clark, University of North Dakota