Civics Knowledge in Tennessee
In conjunction with the Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) at the University of Tennessee, the Institute of American Civics conducted a statewide survey (The Tennessee Civic Survey) in April/May 2024 examining civic knowledge and participation by Tennesseans. The results are concerning and show the pressing need for more attention to be paid to civics instruction across the state. While, on average, the youngest respondents demonstrated the greatest shortcomings of civic knowledge, older Tennesseans were far from exempt. Another concerning feature emerged from the survey results: the political climate has pushed a significant percentage of Tennesseans away from participating politically in everything from family discussions to placing a political sign in their yard.