Teaching the Challenges Facing Democracy
This collection helps secondary educators explore some of the most urgent threats to democracy, from misinformation and voter suppression to the erosion of democratic norms. Democracy depends on core values like freedom, equality, and civic participation—but recent events have revealed just how fragile those values can be. These lessons support critical thinking, media literacy, and civic understanding, empowering students to examine how democratic systems work—and how they can break down.
Inside, you’ll find resources on the events of January 6, book bans and civil discourse, gerrymandering, domestic extremism, and the importance of local news and historical memory in sustaining democracy. Each section includes flexible, classroom-ready materials designed to spark discussion, reflection, and student engagement with the civic issues shaping our world today.
