Extant conceptions of patriotism in social studies curricula are centered upon blind allegiance to the state or a belief in ideals of a liberal democracy. Yet these conceptions fail to account for the complex racial experiences that mediate citizenship and civic action, especially for Black persons. In this article, we advance a theory of Black…

Public history museums play a critical role in validating a nation's history. The museum's institutional strategies of object display are used to define a particular representation of past events. Museum displays of war are of particular interest not only because they provide evidence of past wars, but also because they serve to advance national…

Teachers' beliefs influence their behaviors in classrooms and their organization of classes, each of which can greatly impact student learning. This study focuses on four categories of teachers' beliefs--beliefs about subject, about learners and learning, about teaching, and about self-efficacy--and their potential to shape civic education. More…

This qualitative case study examines one secondary social studies teacher's enactment of her critical constructivist beliefs in teaching for democratic citizenship education. Results are organized around the knowledge, skills, and dispositions addressed, and their consistency with critical constructivism. The teacher's practices were consistent…

Scholarship on globalization suggests that new forms of democratic citizenship and politics are emerging, yet the U.S. educational system remains resistant to global perspectives in the curriculum and continues to favor national identity and patriotism over learning about the world. A national approach to citizenship, which is the norm in U.S.…

The events of September 11, 2001, provoked an awakening of patriotic sentiment in Americans from all walks of life. Reflecting representation from the most diverse of political, social, and economic quarters, this patriotic movement included most everyone from across the spectrum, from politicians, religious leaders, and teachers on the one hand,…