About Quote by Howard Rheingold
“Kids automatically teach each other how to use technology, but they're not going to teach each other about the history of democracy, or the importance of taking their voices into the public sphere to create social change.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Net Smart, 2013
It points out that while youth naturally share tech skills, they lack informal education about democratic history and civic engagement.
In simple terms: Kids teach tech, not democracy.
Key Takeaway
Integrate civic lessons into tech learning.
Themes
education
civic engagement
technology
Mood
thoughtful
motivational
Type
educational
prescriptive
When to use this quote
- schools
- after‑school programs
- online communities
Key Concepts
digital literacy
democratic participation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can schools blend tech and civics?
- What methods teach democratic history effectively?
A Different Perspective
Implementation may face curriculum constraints.
![“The biggest challenge facing the great teachers and communicators of history is not to teach history itself, nor even the lessons of history, but why history matters. How to ignite the first spark of the will o'the wisp, the Jack o'lantern, the ignis fatuus [foolish fire] beloved of poets, which…” quote by Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5b7/stephen-fry-573_great-teachers_the-biggest-challenge-facing-the-great-t_988515.jpg)
