Civics is the study of rights and duties of a citizen. Virginia is a commonwealth state. There are only 4 states in the US that are commonwealth states. These are Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Those that have lived in Virginia all their lives, do not understand the big difference. But Hampton Roads is a melting pot of many nationalities and many military personnel, as we are the largest military base and navy base in the world. People moving here for whatever reason need to know and understand these differences.
Civics classes explain the US Constitution, the State Constitution, and municipal laws of each city/county in Hampton Roads, Virginia that may affect us in our pursuits of happiness.