Across the country, the quality of students’ education is established at the mercy of a system where available resources and opportunities are defined by a zip code, where test scores are prioritized over foundational and applicable knowledge, where the value of individual subjects are weighed in comparison with each other.
It is with these societal principles that civics education is often underprioritized in districts across the United States, both financially and didactically. Recent studies have shown that American school districts spend, on average, fifty dollars per student on STEM education, and only fifty cents per student on civics education.
Civic knowledge among younger generations is steadily declining, a trend that has serious consequences for the health of our democracy. Graduating students often go into the world feeling unprepared to vote, to understand current events, or to participate in the systems that shape their daily lives. Voter turnout, local engagement, and quality of civil discourse are all decreasing due to our youth’s lack of confidence and understanding of their role as a contributing member of society.
At a time where many schools across the country are cutting back on civic engagement, Hempfield Area Senior High School stands out as a district that refuses to let civics education fade into the background. Mr. Ken Stough has served as Hempfield Area’s Civics Education Instructor for 17 of his 27 years of teaching, leading students through the core principles of citizenship as well as the structure and function of their government through Project 18.
Project 18, founded in 1973 by Rich Redmerski, is a class designed to inform students on their personal role in society and government, encouraging real-world applications of information given in textbooks through community service projects, involvement in local voting polls, and familiarity with their state government. It ensures the confidence in young adults to contribute to their societies, aiming to make a positive change, even in small ways.
Throughout the year, students participate in various activities that involve themselves in their community. Last year, the students created a Spartan Civics Guide that included key notes on adult basics, traffic safety, mental and physical health, and a look into your life after high school. This civics guide allowed other students, especially those who did not take Project 18, to have an insight into the structure of our local government and communities, and critical lessons on life skills.
Hempfield Area’s involvement in this program has elevated the conversation of the importance of civic engagement in high school education. With generous funding from the school board, led by President Jerry Radebaugh, and endless support from the High School Administration, especially Dr. Holtzman and Dr. Palmer, Project 18 is able to give Hempfield Area Seniors the lessons and opportunities necessary to enter the world as a contributing member of society. Mr. Stough and the most recent addition to the Project 18, Mrs. Sweeney, have already done immeasurable things in their classrooms to ensure the class of 2026 will share in these critical learning experiences and take them into the world along with them.
“It takes a team to make this work,” Mr. Stough explains. We at Hempfield are exceedingly fortunate to have such a supportive group of people who not only maintain, but highlight the importance of civics education.
Understanding, however, that there exist many schools throughout the United States that do not have the funding, nor executive support to develop a class like Project 18, we must encourage other students to join their community and learn first-hand what it means to be an American citizen. We must engage in conversations that allow questions and meaningful lessons to arise. We, the people, have the power and responsibility to spread the word on the specific things we can do in our society and continue to expand upon the conversation of civics education and how it should be a staple in every citizen’s life.
The lessons that we learn in Project 18 should go far beyond the classroom, inspiring change and civil discourse through our communities.
I challenge you to be a contributing member of an ever-changing society. Get involved, have conversations, advocate for change, cast your votes in every election, educate yourself and others on civic responsibility. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Project 18 gives you the tools and information you need to be this change. We have a student body full of ambitious and inspired students, who I am confident will strive for amazing things in their future.
