Since 2019, the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy has hosted an annual symposium intended to enhance high school teaching in texts and ideas that will contribute to a deeper understanding of America’s founding principles and history and the wider traditions that influenced their development. The CSLD covers the cost of registration, meals and lodging, as well as a modest honorarium for participants ($200).
The 2025 Civic Literacy and Citizenship Symposium
was held June 16-17, 2025
Wisconsin Dells, WI
2026 Application Details Will Be Posted in February 2026
(open to Wisconsin high school social studies teachers)
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Why a symposium on civic literacy in Wisconsin high schools?
Educate
The Civic Literacy and Citizenship Symposium symposium seeks to provide secondary school social studies teachers with texts and ideas that will contribute to a deeper understanding of America’s founding principles and history.
Equip
The symposium seeks to provide social studies teachers with practical tools, resources, and best practices for addressing civic literacy at their home institutions. The 2025 theme is Navigating and Teaching Free Speech in the Classroom.
Previous speakers
- Donald Downs: Emeritus Professor of Political Science at UW–Madison
- Peter Myers: Professor of Political Science at UW-Eau Claire
- Eric Pullin: Professor and Chair of Department of History at Carthage College
- Timothy Shiell: Professor, University of Wisconsin–Stout; Director, Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovations
- John Kaminski: Director of Center for the Study of the American Constitution
- John Sharpless: Emeritus Professor of History at UW–Madison
Previous topics
- The Humanities Citizenship Initiative: Engaging High School Students in the Humanities
- Ratification of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
- The Civil Rights Movement in Two Acts
- The Evolution of the First Amendment: What Happened and Why It Matters
- Civics Education and the Civics Examination in High School: Some Helpful Tools
- Veterans in the Classroom
- Citizenship Exam for WI High Schoolers
"The CSLD program did an excellent job of blending philosophical discussion with practical application for the classroom. As a long time teacher, rarely, do I get a chance to participate in discussion based on primary resource readings."
"It was awesome. Great variety of speakers and activities that helped advance my knowledge."
2025 Participants