Sandra Day O’Connor saw civics education as key to the future of democracy

The late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor saw civic education as foundational to democracy.& William Thomas Cain / Stringer via Getty Images by Joshua Jansa, Oklahoma State University and Eve Ringsmuth, Oklahoma State University Beyond her trailblazing role as the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor considered iCivics – a civics education nonprofit founded after she retired from the court – to be her “most important legacy.” “The practice of democracy is not passed down through the gene pool,” O’Connor once stated. “It must be taught and learned by each new generation.” iCivics is the toolkit she assembled to do just that. Fulfilling O’Connor’s call to action, iCivics provides games and activities designed to help students learn about American democracy. iCivics is predicated on getting students to actively apply what they’re learning through interaction and simulation. The website serves 9 million students annually, in all 50 states. O’Connor’s dedication to civics education was motivated by her keen awareness of its vital importance. She once noted, “Without basic civic education, we cannot expect to preserve or improve our system of government.” As researchers who examine the impact of civics coursework, we agree. The evidence shows that...