Brennan honors Linda Raitt Monkoski’s unique dedication to civics education
Buckingham educator receives recognition from governor
Rep. Tim Brennan May 31, 2024
BUCKINGHAM, May 31 – State Rep. Tim Brennan honored Linda Raitt Monkoski, M.Ed., and her fifth grade class Wednesday at Buckingham Elementary School with a proclamation from Gov. Josh Shapiro for recently taking first place in a regional civics competition. Monkoski is retiring at the end of this school year after 24 years of teaching, with the past 15 at Buckingham.
In April, Brennan welcomed Monkoski and her current fifth grade class to the Capitol to recognize their first place win in The Rendell Center Citizenship Challenge on Jan. 18, against more than 200 other fifth grade classes in the commonwealth. This year’s competition focused on the 1st Amendment. The class also visited the State Museum, thanks to the $1,000 in prize money they won to further their civic education.
“This competition asks students to consider and debate some of the basic rights and freedoms we are granted from our Constitution and Bill of Rights. The experience of speaking in front of a live audience, answering questions posed from distinguished judges, and establishing a position on the question asked provides an invaluable learning experience,” Monkoski said. “My students all agree that this has been one of the best experiences they have had in fifth grade.”
Monkoski has encouraged her students to participate in the challenge since 2016. Her class has placed first in the competition on three occasions and second or third place on three occasions; last year they won first place when the competition called for students to propose new amendments to the Constitution.
“Teachers like Mrs. Monkoski, who are molding tomorrow’s citizens, spend their careers building a better future for all Pennsylvanians — we must do more to support them and highlight their essential work,” Brennan said. “I hope young people deciding on a career will look to her as an example of the power of public education, and the difference it makes in all of our lives.”
“Nothing is more important to a functional government than educating kids about civics and encouraging them to explore what it means to be a thoughtful, engaged and informed U.S. citizen,” Brennan continued. “Our schools are crucial in transferring our democratic political culture to future generations.”
“Mrs. Monkoski is an outstanding example of our Pennsylvania teachers who work diligently to educate the next generation of students. The Rendell Center is honored to have worked with Mrs. Monkoski on civics education over the past 10 years,” said Beth Specker, executive director of The Rendell Center. “She is a talented educator who daily inspires her students. Their work on our Citizenship Challenge is a prime example of Linda's talent and ability to inspire and educate her students.”
The Citizenship Challenge is one of a variety of initiatives underway to boost civics education for Pennsylvania students. The Rendell Center is also a founding member of PA Civics, a coalition of non-partisan, non-profit organizations working to support, promote, and expand civic education in Pennsylvania.
PA Civics is chaired by a bipartisan pair of former members of Congress, Jim Gerlach (R-6th District) and Joe Hoeffel (D-13th District), who gave the following joint statement:
“PA Civics is honored to celebrate Mrs. Linda Monkoski and her tremendous career in the classroom. The achievement of her students at Buckingham Elementary in the Rendell Center Citizenship Challenge over the years, including earning first prize this year, is a testament to her success and positive influence as a civic educator. PA Civics is dedicated to supporting teachers like Mrs. Monkoski by promoting the use of effective resources like the Citizenship Challenge, which challenges fourth and fifth grade students across Pennsylvania to think deeply and critically about contemporary civic issues while practicing civil debate and writing skills.”
“The Citizenship Challenge provides students with the unique opportunity to hear from their peer group and to have their young voices heard,” Monkoski said. “I hope to encourage other teachers to participate in the competition since it is such a wonderful experience for students.”
Brennan, an award-winning attorney who has taught politics and civics at a community college, is supporting several measures that aim to boost civics responsibility and/or education:
The lawmakers has also been liaising between the state Department of Education and stakeholders including Gerlach, Hoeffel, and the Committee of 70 to ensure Act 35 of 2018 is making progress on facilitating civics integration into public school curricula. The law, which went into effect with the 2020-21 school year, requires schools to administer a locally developed assessment of U.S. history, government and civics at least once to students during grades seven through 12. It also requires schools to adapt their curriculum to prepare students for the assessment and ensure sufficient civic education. [Click here to watch Brennan’s recent testimony about Act 35 in the House chamber.]