A Message from Director, Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.

Introducing the Center on Civility & Democracy

A Message from Director, Frederick J. Ryan, Jr.

The Reagan Center on Civility and Democracy is working to heal the many divisions that have undermined personal relationships, work connections, and community cohesion across our country.

As this civility crisis is many years in the making, we are committed to a sustained, long-term approach to help address it. We believe teaching students the principles of civil discourse is essential to preparing the next generation to be part of this effort, and our nation’s educators are increasingly seeking tools to equip them.

To assist American teachers, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute has developed the Civil Discourse Project, nonpartisan classroom materials that prepare students to engage in more civil and respectful conversations with their peers, teachers and friends and to collaborate across ideological divides. Already adopted by the Department of Defense Education Activity to serve the thousands of children of active duty military and Department of Defense civilian families worldwide, this project’s materials are now available to classrooms across the country free of charge.

You too can share information about the Civil Discourse Project with your local school, school district, or educational organization. A Sample Lesson Can Be Found Here.

We are also working to extend this material beyond the classroom to businesses, places of worship, civic organizations, and other community groups and national associations.