Civic Engagement

Jack Alexander, Topeka Water Commissioner

Student-Led Oral Histories of Local Officials

A Native American Views the Pledge of Allegiance

Civics Education

About this Resource

Civic Engagement exists as part of the current KSDE Kansas Education Systems of Accreditation (KESA) foundational structures, thus all systems need to address civic engagement in a variety of ways. School systems also have the option to apply for Civic Advocacy Network (CAN) recognition awards based on evidence of civic engagement. The KOHP can help in both these areas. Civic Engagement involves both learning in the classroom and service projects in the community. Given that part of civic engagement is educational, the KOHP can be an important tool to teach about different areas of state and local government for a variety of grade levels. KOHP developed lesson plans for student-led oral history projects that engage the community. Further, high school students can utilize the KOHP to teach younger students about civic engagement, which itself is a part of civic engagement, an important aspect of CAN requirements.

A Native American Views the Pledge of Allegiance

Potawatomi tribal council member Rafael Wahwassuck was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at his elementary school and discovered that his family objected. He explains in this short video why the flag doesn't mean the same to all people. "I came home excited from school, explaining to my folks that it was going to be my turn to lead the Pledge of Allegiance, and I was told no. I didn’t understand that right away. I didn’t understand because everybody else was doing it in the class. So I waited all year for it to be my turn to stand up Show Morein front of the class and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Then I was given a short history lesson. Part of that lesson was how the meaning of the American flag was not the same for everybody in that classroom, and more specifically, what it meant for our people and how in certain circumstances, it could be viewed as a sign of oppression to our people. I left that day, knowing I didn’t have to, but I was free to lead the Pledge of Allegiance if I wanted to. When my day came at school, I chose not to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. I was then promptly sent to the principal’s office for not wanting to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the students. Again, that’s just an early experience that I can recall, and it wasn’t until later on in my life that I had an opportunity to speak with one of my uncles because, as you know, you know my family, I’ve had numerous veterans in my family throughout the entire history of this country. One of the ones who was a career veteran, I asked him, I said, “Why do you do what you do? I’m confused. I don’t understand. If the United States came in and they imposed everything on us, they took so many things away from us, why do you then proudly serve in their Armed Forces?” He said to me, “The first time around when we had people coming in, we didn’t stand up like we should have. We didn’t stand up like we should have, and it put our people in a position where we are today back then.” So he said, “I’m going to do my part to make sure that I can do whatever I can to protect our people today and make sure that our area and our land and our beliefs are protected today.” Show Less

Civics Education

An editorial in the Topeka Capital Journal stated, “Civics is about so much more than passing a written test…or reciting facts or figures about our country and Constitution. It’s about the spirit of America, about a country that includes Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, men and women, Black people and white people, gay people and straight people, and a few editorial writers besides. Civics, in other words, is about perfecting and pursuing a more perfect union.”

Student-Led Oral Histories of Local Officials

This framework for the collection and preservation of Student-Led Oral Histories of Local Government Officials was developed as part of a civic education initiative to encourage students to engage with their community and learn about the different areas of local government.

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Student-Led Oral Histories of Local Officials

A Native American Views the Pledge of Allegiance

Civics Education

About this Resource

A Native American Views the Pledge of Allegiance

Civics Education

Student-Led Oral Histories of Local Officials