Override of governor’s civics budget cut a sign of hope Massachusetts is arguably the most educated state in America, and one of the birthplaces of America’s civic tradition. If there’s any place in the country where you would expect to find consensus about the value of teaching American history, it is here. Unfortunately, the fight for more comprehensive civics education in the Bay State has persisted for years with no sign of abating. Advocates won an important battle recently when public outcry led the Legislature to override Gov. Maura Healey’s cut to the state’s modest civics instruction ..read more

Sunshine State’s commitment to civics education and true debates stands out Ex-high school debaters, a warning: the following may induce a nostalgia-twinged sadness. Those who participated in civic debate through secondary school likely have fond memories of two sides engaging faithfully on an arguable, relevant topic with each side’s positions backed up by evidence and sober analysis of the facts at hand. Perhaps you debated the legacy of a Constitutional amendment or the viability of a political critique. Whatever the substance, your debate exercise was likely only as good as the educator le ..read more

If you’ve found yourself confused by the vitriolic state of discourse in higher education in recent months, I might be able to provide some insight. I study humanities at a well-known liberal arts college in the early 2020s. I am quite literally in the belly of the beast. I’m sympathetic when I hear individuals lament cancel culture, radicalized student bodies, and anti-free speech climates in our institutions of higher learning. After all, it’s usually my cohort —today’s crazy students — whom they blame. In many ways, it’s right to do so. Mine is among the most historically and civically illi ..read more

Why study history? Because the Founders asked us to — and because it’s good for you. Ben Franklin’s quip after the Constitutional Convention that he gave Americans “a republic if [they] can keep it” is an oft-repeated line in civic-minded circles, but the sentiment expressed is no less relevant. Our most senior Founding Father understood the sensitivity of the new American experiment. He hoped future citizens would study the historical narrative and intellectual reasoning that informed our Constitution. Otherwise, its soaring rhetoric would be little more than a “parchment guarantee” to those ..read more

Bans and dueling polemics don’t serve students well The decline of history in K-12 education is a topic familiar to Pioneer’s followers in Massachusetts and beyond. Previous blogs and reports have called attention to poor standardized test performances and underwhelming standards, and Pioneer’s attention has focused on curricular deficiencies and an uneven application of standards in classrooms across the country. This issue has also made its way into the political arena. Progressives and conservatives have sponsored politically influenced alterations to history curricula across the country. B ..read more

Earlier this month, a Pioneer Institute blog compared the salaries of New England flagship public university presidents. These school leaders often rank among the state’s highest-paid public employees. The presidents of these and the other respected universities and colleges in Massachusetts all have notable salaries, but what about the presidents of the other state schools in Massachusetts? This blog will look at the salaries of presidents of Massachusetts state universities, while excluding those in the UMASS system for a fair comparison. Presidential Salaries at Massachusetts State Schools ..read more