Is The Failure of Civic Education in Schools the Primary Cause of Ideological Partisanship in Society Today?
The Steamboat Institute, in partnership with the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, is proud to present a compelling debate on the following resolution: Be it resolved, the failure of civic education in schools is the primary cause of ideological partisanship in society today. Arguing the affirmative is Josh Dunn, Ph.D., Professor and Executive Director of the Institute of American Civics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Arguing the negative is Timothy Messer-Kruse,Ph.D., Professor in the School of Cultural and Critical Studies at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Moderator is Kaylee McGhee White, Editor-in-Chief for Independent Women Features; Tony Blankley Fellow, Steamboat Institute.
This debate will take place in the Wilburn Auditorium, on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM PT.