Learning the basics of how government works is a lesson State Representative Linda Dean Campbell wants to make sure is taught in schools.
Campbell, who represents Methuen and Haverhill and is not running for office this fall, recently worked with Haverhill State Rep. Andy X. Vargas to advocate for support to advance the demand nearly four years of state civic education.
“It was fantastic because you had the older person, like me, and you had the younger person, like Andy, really, really pushing for it. He brought so much to the table. He brought a lot of excitement to the young people,” Campbell said during a recent appearance on WHAV’s morning show.
As previously reported by WHAV, Campbell said the Legislature has committed $1.5 million for civics in each of the last three state budgets, with much of the money going directly to schools to help program implementation. She said it is her observation that the country seems to be dividing and that recent Supreme Court rulings on guns and abortion are “hot issues”.
“I think it’s a time of great challenge nationally, providing our young people, who are going to set the rules for our society, I think providing them with at least a basic understanding of the basic documents and how we’re trying in our country to make democracy work. I think that’s so important,” she explained.
Campbell said it was also important for young people to develop the skills to critically check their sources of information.
“You know, the provision that we talked about a lot with the law was how to verify the information, to try to give them the skills, because they are all online. They don’t read newspapers and magazines. So to help these young adults understand how to get information, how to verify it, and I think that’s also a very important part of the law,” she added.
Campbell also acknowledged WHAV’s press efforts. “You know the service you provide to people, I think, and along the lines of what we talked about, I think it’s a very important public service. So thank you also for what you do.
Campbell called the Civic Law sponsorship one of his “proudest accomplishments,” saying it offers a non-partisan approach and includes “a hands-on, project-based approach” that helps students learn first-hand. how democracy works and how they can make their voices heard. .
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