Montpelier, VT – This week (March 9 – 13) is Civic Learning Week, an annual nationwide nonpartisan event that brings together students, educators, policymakers, and leaders in the public and private sectors to highlight and promote the movement for civic education.

“Civics is more than dry facts about the three branches of government. Civics is also about working together to affect change, solve problems and make life better for all of us,” said Secretary Copeland Hanzas. “Many of the problems we see around us are too big to solve on our own, and it’s crucial to understand how to get involved, make a difference and bring about the changes we want to see.”

To kick off this year’s Civic Learning Week, Copeland Hanzas highlighted a new resource that is available to Vermont students (and the public): “Your Vermont State House – Government and Democracy in Vermont’s Capital,” a comic map and guide that explains the history of the State House and how the government operates in Montpelier. With support from the Secretary of State’s office, the State Curator’s Office and Vermont Humanities, the resource is the work of artist and Center for Cartoon Studies educator Dan Nott.

Nott, who had previously created a longer-form graphic guide to Vermont government and history called “Freedom and Unity,” explained that this new educational resource aims to take advantage of a unique opportunity: “It’s a tradition for many schools in Vermont to take their 4th graders on a trip to Montpelier to visit the Capitol building and history museum, and a lot of times it’s the students’ first experience learning about government,” he explained. “One of the goals of [this resource] is to help Vermonters visualize what their government actually is and where the work of government takes place. When you hear about committees meeting to debate policy, or a vote happening on the floor of the State House, this is where it’s happening!” 

“This is an opportunity I would love to see made available to all 4th graders in Vermont,” added Secretary Copeland Hanzas. “Currently, not all schools can afford it. The fact is, there’s no substitute for this kind of learning experience, and I hope we can work with our legislature to make it possible for all students.”

“As students wend their way through the State House and on to other locations in Montpelier’s Capitol District, we are incredibly grateful that Dan Nott’s map gives them a resource for navigating our state government,” said State Curator David Schutz. “These are future voters learning directly how to participate in our democracy. This new tool for learning could not have come at a better time!”

The Secretary of State civics program also includes:

• A Teacher Advisory Group that provides feedback and helps develop K-12 civic education materials;
• A civic education resource library on the Secretary of State’s website;
• Vermont’s first Civic Health Index, which looks at six domains of civic health across the state: Volunteerism and Donating, Political Engagement, Social and Community Context, Cultural Access and Engagement, Media Trust and Access, and Government Trust and Access. It also highlights results from the Vermont Youth Civic Health Survey;
• Bringing the Kid Governor program to Vermont. Kid Governor is a civic education experience for 5th graders that teaches about government, voting, and civic participation through an authentic election for kids. In its inaugural year, over 1000 5th graders voted in an election that saw Highgate student Roslyn Fortin win on a platform focused on addressing homelessness.

To find out more about the Vermont Secretary of State’s Civics Program, see our webpage.