A recent page 2 article in the weekly THE EPOCH TIMES headlined “Civics Education Gains Ground in K-12 and Higher Education” caught my attention. The second paragraph really caught my interest: ”An Oct.6 research report from the North Carolina-based James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal notes that every state except Alaska, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin requires completion of a civics course for high school graduation.”

A couple of years ago the Thomas B. Fordham Institute released a report card on history and civics in U.S. schools. It would be shameful enough to note that Wisconsin was one of twenty states found inadequate, but even worse to realize Wisconsin was one of nine states that received a failing evaluation.

A December 2024 Hoover Institution Press article “State Civics Requirements in 2024” made an interesting observation, “Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have no course requirements but require students to take a civics assessment—although Pennsylvania does not require students to pass.” That tells me that Wisconsin at least requires a passing grade.

A 2023 Wisconsin DPI Press Release includes the comment “We know that civics and social studies teaching and learning has been in decline since the 1990s.” In the 2021-2022 legislative session the Wisconsin Assembly passed AB 563 which would have required the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop a model curriculum and instructional materials for K-12 on civic education to prepare pupils to be civically knowledgeable and responsible adults. It died in the State Senate.

THE EPOCH TIMES article went on to reference a 2022 report from the National Center for Education Statistics that reported one in six Americans could not name any branches of the U.S. government. It then shared that Education Secretary Linda McMahon had recently announced that a new grant for U.S. History and Civics instruction would soon be available. (There will be $160 million available.)

As the 2026 elections approach, all this is important for two reasons. One is that is campaign season and time to ask candidates for many of the offices some tough questions about educational concerns, and civics education in particular. Voting citizens should ask tough questions like what is or is not being taught relative to civics, government, and U.S. history? All candidates, while some may not be directly involved, should have a knowledgeable opinion on this as it affects the American way of life to include faith, family, and freedom!

The second reason for concern is both the candidates’ and the voters’ basic civics knowledge. For example, do judicial candidates really know they must base their judgements on the Rule of Law and not their likes or dislikes? Why have some Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates over the past few years campaigned openly on the issues and how they feel (how they will rule) – rather than waiting to hear the facts and applying the Rule of Law? “Just the facts” is more than a phrase from an old TV show! The judicial is but one branch of government and the other two are executive and legislative.

Executives, such as mayors and governors, run their city or state based on the laws the legislature has passed. Selection criteria for a governor or president should be different from that for a state or federal legislator. Again, legislators pass legislation and the executives run things according to the laws. When picking your candidates, consider what the position being sought entails and what experiences and expectations the candidate has.

Maybe the best way to describe an executive position is by mentioning President Harry Truman’s famous desk top sign “The Buck Stops Here”. Or another may be by sharing what President Eisenhower said about his Vice President, Richard Nixon, late in Nixon’s 1960 campaign for President. “I don’t know how he expects to run the country, he has never run anything.” Nixon, a lawyer, had been a Navy officer in World War II, had been in the US Senate, and was Vice President for eight years; but he had never run anything!

In 2026, Wisconsin Republicans will have their choice of two –maybe more- excellent candidates for Governor on Primary Day next August. One, Congressman Tom Tiffany, is a career legislator while the other, County Executive Josh Shoemann has a wealth of experience as a County Manager and now a County Executive. (I know my pick for Governor!)

So, what can we expect? There are calls for public colleges and universities to initiate and mandate a 3-credit course covering the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and The Federalist Papers (to include passing the final exam). There are calls for civics education courses in all (K-12) teacher training programs. There is agreement that civic knowledge is critical for responsible citizenship, and is in serious need of massive repair!

But, future plans will not help change current events; or influence the 2026 elections. The time is now for individual – or small group – initiatives to get informed, get involved and share the patriotic pursuit of faith, family, and freedom while learning more about the history and government of our United States of America! !