Comics in the Classroom: Teaching Democracy

October 1, 2019

For Immediate Release

With a comic book designed to help educators teach their students about democracy and governance, CCS cartoonists are visiting classrooms in the Midwest this fall.

White River Junction, VT, September 16, 2019 — The annual Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey finds that only 26% of Americans can name all three branches of government. The Mikva Challenge and The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS), two non-profit organizations, are teaming up to increase that number.

This is What Democracy Looks Like: A Graphic Guide to Governance is a 32-page comic book that will be distributed to classrooms in Detroit, Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee, and more this fall. This comic book is the result of a collaboration of educators and word-class cartoonists and is designed to help teachers who are working hard to prepare students to be empowered, informed, and civic-minded. At each school, CCS instructors will give away comics and work with teachers to help students gain a deeper understanding of how their government works (and doesn’t work) and how they can make a difference in their communities and beyond.

“Comics can engage and inform even the most reluctant of readers,” says cartoonist and CCS director James Sturm, “and there’s a growing hunger for more civics education and this democracy comic meets that need.”

Mikva introduced the comic to the 200 teachers who attended their Action Civics Summer Institute this past July, and connected their teacher network with CCS for this tour. “As a fun and accessible classroom resource this comic supports students in understanding our democracy and their power to participate in it. The teachers loved it.” says Jill Bass, Mikva Challenge’s Chief Education Officer.

The tour will start in late September when Sturm and cartoonist Coco Fox will be joined by members of the Mikva team to help students understand what democracy looks like – and how they can be active, informed participants. “I’m so inspired by the work that Mikva does and am excited to see the power of cartooning enhance their educational efforts,” says CCS President Michelle Ollie.

This Is What Democracy Looks Like: A Graphic Guide to Governance is available for free as a download, or for purchase, educational bundles and individual copies: cartoonstudies.org/democracy

About Mikva Challenge

Mikva Challenge is a nonpartisan organization that develops youth to be empowered, informed and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society. The not-for-profit works in cities around the country engaging youth in action civics, an authentic and transformative learning process built on youth voice and youth expertise.

About The Center for Cartoon Studies

The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit college and studio. Drawing upon the talent from our faculty, fellows, students, alumni, and visiting artists, CCS has produced a series of multi Eisner Award-winning graphic biographies about iconic historical figures (Hyperion/Disney) and The Cartoonist Veteran project (funded by the NEA). At CCS, comics are created to help us understand our community, our world, and ourselves.