The author presents evidence of "glaring gaps in U.S. students' civic knowledge, motivation, and interest." From the inception of the United States through the mid-20th century, he writes, civic education was at the center of U.S. schooling. Since then, however, there has been a decline in civics instruction, fueled by increasing pressure on schools to raise reading and math scores. To place civics front and center once again, schools must develop students' sense of civic purpose by inspiring them with examples of civic leaders and causes with which they can identify. Even more important, schools should not allow calls for "global citizenship" to distract them from teaching the particulars of U.S. citizenship or from fostering students' sense of national pride and identity.