Photo: Kentucky State Capitol

NBC's Tonight Show often has a segment called "Jaywalking" where host Jay Leno interviews people on the street about such things as who was the first president of the United States, or how many senators there are in Congress. The answers are either hilarious or horrifying depending on how one looks at abject ignorance of basic civics.

For those wishing to test their own knowledge of civics, About.com has a set of sample questions online.

Kentucky is one state trying to help fill the civics vacuum, and the Secretary of State's Office just announced updates to civics.ky.gov as a one-stop location for civic information across the commonwealth. The site features lesson plans for teachers, games for students, resources for parents, and ways for community leaders to get involved.

"This Web site is an outstanding resource to better engage and inform Kentucky citizens," remarked Secretary of State Trey Grayson. "I am particularly excited about all of the resources that we have for teachers. No longer will they have to go to multiple locations to find relevant lessons plans for civics topics."

In September of 2006, Grayson announced the Workgroup's publication Rediscovering Democracy: An Agenda for Action. The Agenda calls upon Kentucky leaders to take four essential steps to increase the civic literacy and engagement of the Commonwealth's Citizens:

• The establishment of the Kentucky Center for Civic Excellence in partnership with state universities or colleges
• The implementation of a pilot study of a high school government and civics course that integrates both civic literacy and civic engagement at the local, state, and federal level
• The creation of an annual teacher academy and network to provide professional development in the area of government and civics
• Increasing by five percent the degree to which government and civics are assessed in the blueprint of the statewide student assessment.

The site also hosts information for the Southern Coalition on Civic Education, a 13-state coalition developed to encourage government, community, and education leaders to incorporate civic knowledge, skills and attitudes into policies, programs, and pedagogy that support effective civic education and engagement from early childhood through adulthood. Kentucky and the workgroup have hosted the first two Southern Conferences on Civic Literacy Education in Louisville, Ky.

"As we approach Election Day," said Grayson, "I hope citizens will take a moment to think about the contribution they can make to our society by encouraging their fellow citizens to be involved. This site is an excellent way for Kentuckians to learn more about civics and to become engaged."

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