Bartlett teacher named to state task force

Bartlett High School history teacher Larry Pahl was recently appointed as one of 13 members to serve on Governor Quinn’s Task Force on Civic Education.

Public Act 098-0301, signed into law in August, created the task force to study civic education programs in Illinois, identify best practices, and make recommendations to the General Assembly on how Illinois can improve the civic literacy of young people.

“The federal No Child Left Behind law has narrowly devoted much of its focus to improving students’ academic progress in language arts and math, and in the process social studies has been left behind,” said Pahl. “This task force presents a tremendous opportunity to ensure that all students in Illinois learn the origin of our nation’s democracy as well as how to act as civically engaged and responsible members of the community.”

Pahl, who also serves on the board of the Illinois Council for the Social Studies, will represent Social Studies teachers throughout Illinois and advocate for their priorities on the Governor’s Task Force.

Pahl would like to see the U-46 requirement that seniors take a semester of civics become a statewide practice, and hopes to get this recommendation included in the final report which the task force must submit no later than May 31.

“This task force will shed light on the importance of teaching our young people about democracy, government, voting, and civic leadership,” said Superintendent José M. Torres.