Primary VOICE Addresses the Needs of Young Readers and Young Citizens




Early Intervention Is Necessary for Later Engagement. Reading is the foundation for not only academic achievement but also the civic development of students. Yet reading is not simply a skill: absent the desire to read and the ability to find pleasure in reading, students are less likely to find in inspiration or illumination in the written word. Without engagement, students lose out on learning and all the avenues for civic participation which depend on a literate citizenry.

Primary VOICE provides teachers with opportunities to boost comprehension and critical thinking skills without creating an "extra" subject. The strategies of law-related education - cooperative learning, role play simulations, and civil discourse - form a powerful context in which students and teachers together can explore the "why" behind a story and its telling. The stories and problems in the Primary VOICE curriculum and in correlated children's literature help spark student interest and invite student involvement. This foundation helps open students to further inquiry and a greater readiness to use their newfound skills as they continue in school.

Multiple Opportunities Are Necessary for Democratic Engagement. Since the release of The Civic Mission of Schools report in 2003, scholars, education experts, policymakers, and schools have been working to promote a common vision for civic education and its importance for the future of the United States. Chief among the recommendations in the report was the need and desirability of making civic education curricula "part of every student's school experience at every grade level" in order to master basic civic competencies.

Primary VOICE meets this need by introducing young students to the "habits of the heart" which distinguish democratic behavior. The program introduces civic skills and behaviors so that they become the foundation for work in the later grades. By incorporating Primary VOICE at schools where older students already participate in law-related education, CRFC can further support the success of civic knowledge and skills at those campuses.


Last updated: July 6, 2007

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