that job in the Bush era is ongoing.

Secretary of State Michael Adams of Kentucky told an audience in Frankfort how well he thinks Kentuckyian understand and participate in their government.

He says simply put it could be better.

That's why Adams is once again pushing for mandatory civics classes in Kentucky.

Public schools as our June Leffler reports, some social studies, teachers like the idea.

More on that in tonight's Education Matters.

Report.

>> Downtown Frankfort is home to the old Capitol building.

>> Bill, in 18, 30, this building served as the Kentucky State Capitol until 1910.

You are in the House chambers here.

Kentucky's top elections official goes over.

Results from his office is 2023 Civics Health survey.

>> Relative to the rest of the country, Kentuckyian seemed to be more accepting about their viewpoints.

Our assessment found that 75% of Kentuckyian say they are friends with people who have opposing viewpoints.

>> And 61% think it is better for politicians to compromise, then to constantly bigger.

Okay.

That was the good news.

Here's the bad news.

A Kentucky INS were surveyed on their civic knowledge.

They didn't pass the test.

Just half could name the 3 branches of government.

Under has could name a single official.

That number dropped further been asked to name a legislator or a constitutional officer.

>> That's why he is proposing all Kentucky public schools teach one full year of civics.

Kentucky's high schoolers must take 3 social studies courses.

Civics.

Is it required by state law?

But many schools do teach it.

>> So we have to start from scratch.

And we're teaching government basics at first.

And then we make sure kids understand their rights.

We make sure they understand how to advocate for the world.

They want to see him get engaged.

>> Adam's proposed a mandatory civics course to lawmakers last session.

They didn't bite to a crowd of teachers, boaters and some young people.

Adams makes the case that a healthy democracy starts in the classroom.

Records of our legislative and constitutional debates over public education in the 19th Century.

>> Show that the goal of advocates for Universal education was to ensure that we have a citizenry capable of self government.

The purpose of schools was to create not workers, but Citizens.

>> Adams understands the resistance from the state house.

He says lawmakers don't have an appetite for civics education like they do for say election integrity and he doesn't want to overburden teachers.

But this social studies teacher says the secretary's words just prove how important her job is.

>> It makes me is an educator.

Feel like I have value in the classroom even more because a politician is looking at this and saying we need to be bipartisan.

We need to compromise.

One thing that we teach students and I say the students a lot is that Iran has enough complainers.

We need problem solvers.

We need people with solutions.

And so I feel like he's proposing a solution or he's proposing a way to be better.

>> The secretary also push for a new civics exam for high school graduation.

This one already.

But Adam says it could be more robust for Kentucky edition.

I'm Jen Leffler.

>> Thank you, Jen.

The Kentucky Historical Society hosted the event.

The society is gearing up for the 200 and 50th anniversary of our nation's founding.

Now will save you from doing the math.

That's in 2026.

The society is encouraging everyone to get involved and you can find out how online at history DOT K Y dot Gov.