Sharon McMahon, America's favorite government teacher and bestselling author of "The Small and the Mighty." shares how she went from a classroom government teacher to a social media success with over a million followers on Instagram. Once you hear this episode you will understand why Shaon’s nonpartisan videos on the electoral college and other political processes captured the hearts and attention of her followers and mass media.
You may not know that there is currently a lack of standardized civic education across the United States. Each state decides how much time to allocate within their schools to teach about US Government and Civics. Yes, read that again and stop for a minute to consider the consequences of inconsistent and insufficient government education for American students. If students are not taught how to make change locally, statewide or nationally, or that their vote and participation matters, perhaps that explains a lot including why so many of us complain that the system is not representing us?
We talk about Sharon’s brilliant book, "The Small and the Mighty," which profiles twelve unsung American heroes who made extraordinary impacts on history. One of the heroes is Clara Brown, an enslaved woman who became a pioneer in Colorado, through sacrifice, faith and decades of hard work.
We also discuss the current election and why the majority of Americans feel they are not represented by either candidate. Sharon offers suggestions for electoral reforms and a multi-party system that would drastically change election outcomes. Sharon recommends FairVote, an organization working to improve election systems at the state level. Do not miss this episode that will challenge you to think critically about your role in democracy and we guarantee will inspire you to get poltically engaged in what matters most to you.
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Favorite Quotes from this episode:
"I think that you can love something while also knowing the truth about it."
"No work for liberty is lost; it changes the fabric of what the country is."
"Just do the next needed thing."
"We are reaping the harvest of what we have sown."
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