A recent national NBC News poll reveals that 80% of Americans believe the United States does not place enough emphasis on civic education, which includes the teaching of government and democracy. This sentiment is shared across ideological and generational lines, with 87% of progressives and 84% of conservatives agreeing that there is too little focus on civic education.

Civic Education and Institutional Trust

The poll also shows that Americans have low confidence in institutions, including the government. Only 12% of adults expressed confidence in Congress, and 18% in the federal government. In contrast, 34% of Americans have confidence in colleges and universities, and 30% in public schools.

When asked about the need for strong executive leadership, 48% of adults agreed that it is necessary to solve problems directly, while 48% believed it is dangerous. This divide is reflected in the responses of different demographic groups, with women, young people, and college graduates more likely to say that strong leadership is dangerous.

Core Values and Priorities

Despite the divisions, the poll finds that most Americans share the same core values, with 54% of adults surveyed saying that most Americans have the same core values but disagree on politics and issues. Family and freedom are the two values most important to Americans, across all demographic groups.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.