(Washington, DC) – Sixth District Congressman James E. Clyburn today announced Claflin University has been awarded a $162,669 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to provide pre-service teachers a better understanding of civic education. The program called Performing Arts for Effective Civic Education will revise the current curriculum, using the performing arts (music, dance, and theater) as a methodology to give students studying to be teachers a fuller appreciation of the importance of civic education.
The program calls for faculty to participate in workshops to learn how to teach civic education using the performing arts. They can impart this knowledge to their students by having them actively utilize these tools in selected K-12 public school settings. The project aims to improve the knowledge of civic matters among college and K-12 students, and increase the appreciation for educational theater.
"The U.S. Department of Education funded this program because of its innovation," Congressman Clyburn said. "I applaud Claflin University for broadening their academic programs and thinking beyond the expected scope of learning."
This grant is expected to reoccur for a period of three years.
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