Helping schools do civics duty

Richard Dreyfuss has taken on a new role: civics advocate.

Dreyfuss said he was dismayed that civics no longer is being taught in many public schools. He has launched a personal campaign to urge educators to inform their young students about the U.S. Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, and other government basics.

On Wednesday evening in Martha’s Vineyard, the actor called together a group of school administrators, television producers, writers and local leaders to discuss launching a civics pilot program at one of the island community’s elementary schools. Dreyfuss is hopeful the effort will become a model for other schools across the country.

“We want to get people excited about the basics again,” he said in a phone interview after the forum. “By not teaching civics, our children are not learning about current events and how the government works.

“They need to be informed on what it means to maintain the system while sharing political space.”

Trio’s stand music to ACLU’s ears

The Dixie Chicks may not have been “ready to make nice,” but it seems like everyone else is.

In addition to receiving five Grammy nominations Thursday, including for the song “Not Ready to Make Nice,” the country-pop trio -- ostracized for criticizing President Bush at the beginning for the Iraq war -- is receiving kudos from the ACLU of Southern California.

The civil rights organization will honor the three performers at its annual Bill of Rights dinner -- hosted by HBO’s Bill Maher -- in Beverly Hills on Monday evening.

The ACLU is also giving awards of recognition to Atlantic Records Group executive Kevin Weaver and Paul Haggis, who won Academy Awards this year for producing and writing “Crash.”

A special award for “courageous advocacy” will go to Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles D. Swift, who argued the Supreme Court case that rejected the Bush administration’s attempt to hold terror suspects to different standards of justice.

Also attending the event will be Virgin Records U.S. Chairman and CEO Jason Flom and singer Jewel, who will perform.

Piping up about water-main break

While a stretch along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu was closed Saturday following a water main break that left a giant sinkhole, late night host Jay Leno wondered about the political ramifications.

“Big problem in Malibu,” he told an audience this week. “A 30-foot sinkhole opened up on the Pacific Coast Highway. You thought President Bush was slow getting federal aid to rebuild New Orleans? How long do you think it’s going to take to bail out Barbra Streisand?”

tina.daunt@latimes.com