By Beth Pellicciotti, Civics Education Portfolio Chair, LWV of Washington

LWV of Snohomish County member Rita Ireland is “trying to enrich democracy one page at a time.” As a recipient of the LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant, and with support from her League, she is delivering free LWVWA textbooks of The State We’re In: Washington to elementary school teachers, librarians, and curriculum directors.

Rita’s enthusiasm about the new civics textbook for elementary schools is contagious. “We needed this textbook for years. For instance, it covers the early days of pioneers in Washington state and makes clear that we did not follow through with the Indigenous treaties.”

She describes the storytelling in the textbook as critically important for the younger reader. “One of the stories is about the son of farm workers, Saul Martinez, who began his public service as a member of the Pasco school board and currently serves as mayor of Pasco. Martinez’s story focuses on his father’s yearning for education and ends with Martinez describing his work as mayor and encouraging all youngsters to be dedicated to school and to follow their dreams.”

As enthusiastic as Rita is about the textbook, she had to develop a strategy to connect with those in charge of libraries, classrooms, and textbook adoption. First, she received approval for her work from the LWV of Snohomish County Board. Then she researched the names of key contacts—curriculum directors—in each school district and crafted an introductory letter about the significance of the textbook to teaching young children civics and Washington state history. She also included a picture of the book and the accompanying poster, "What Does It Take to Be a Good Citizen?"

Rita had to be persistent. She followed the introductory email with a second email two weeks later, asking for possible dates to deliver the textbook and poster. Rita has a way of making even textbook delivery fun, assuring those in the schools that this delivery would be the perfect chance for her and her husband to have a road trip date.

Rita and another Snohomish County League member designed a nameplate for each book listing the LWVWA Civic Education Fund as the creator of the textbook and the LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant and the Snohomish County League as the gift’s funders. Snohomish County League members met at her home to help with textbook and poster preparation, with Snohomish County League Board members assisting with book delivery.

Textbook distribution is a work in progress, but the effort to date has been impressive. Out of the 15 school districts Rita has contacted, 12 have set a delivery date for the textbooks, an 80% success rate. Rita believes that “if I can get the book in the hands of elementary school librarians, teachers, and curriculum directors, that is like gold.”

Rita is not “selling” textbooks—she is highlighting the importance of civics education for elementary schoolchildren. In all her correspondence, she emphasizes that The State We’re In: Washington is free. It is an online, open education resource for young students to learn civics education.

Now she is considering a book display in local libraries, with the question, “Parents—are you interested in teaching your child civics?”

Rita Ireland—"Enriching democracy one page at a time.”

See for yourself: The State We’re In: Washington elementary-grade textbook is free, online, and ADA compliant.

Consider applying for a LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant: LWVWA Civics Education Grant Guidelines (see pages 21-27).

From left to right: The State We’re In: Washington textbooks for elementary schools and the poster "What Does It Take to Be a Good Citizen"; delivering textbooks and posters from Olympia to Snohomish County are Rita Ireland with Thurston County League members Paula Holroyde and The State We’re In project manager, Karen Verrill; bookplate for each donated textbook created by the LWV of Snohomish County and the LWVWA Civic Education Fund Grant.