Village Executive Director Tom Walker said the mid-May release of the U. S. Department of Education's national report card, or National Assessment of Educational Progress, in history and civics shows there is "much work to be done" in America to prepare young people for their roles as citizens.

NAEP reported some improvement in student knowledge of history but the studies reflected a large number of young people who have only "basic" or less than basic knowledge of American history and civics. The study showed very little improvement in student knowledge in the area of civics from the last study several years ago.

Walker said, "Our country's whole concepts of liberty and self-government are based on citizens having knowledge of our country's history -- how and why it is that we live in freedom. Those concepts also rest upon the notion that a self-governing people must have a core of knowledge and skills associated with the institutions and acts of self-government."

The Citizenship Trust at The American Village was founded to promote good citizenship on the foundation of American history, civics, and government. Walker led the founding of the Village as a unique way to educate and inspire young people in these core subjects.

For more information on the NAEP or "national report card," and the American Village's commentary on the report, please write twalker@americanvillage.org, or call 1-877-811-1776 and leave your name and address to be mailed a copy of the summer issue of the American Village Liberty Letter.