Despite the increasing emphasis on social studies in Early Childhood Education, there has been a serious paucity of empirical studies on how culturally and linguistically diverse children develop their emergent understanding on their identities and citizenships in different racial and cultural surroundings. The main purpose of this article is to…

The future of the American experiment, and the life of the democratic republic that is the United States, is at risk. American citizens have endangered the republic by failing to educate new generations of citizens about civic responsibility. As early as the nineteenth century, the tension between individualism and American republican principles…

American democratic society is sustained through debate among its citizens. Four sets of value tensions--(1) law versus ethics, (2) private wealth versus common wealth, (3) freedom versus equality, and (4) unity versus diversity--are central in allowing citizens to address matters of public interest through debate. These value pairs are the…

Discusses the kind of citizens a democratic society needs to preserve freedom and examines how a society can educate these citizens. Citizens must be literate beyond the 3Rs. For this to happen, the nation and the education establishment must regain an understanding of the concepts of adulthood, community, and meaning. (SR)

Making children good citizens for tomorrow, despite the examples of dishonesty and irresponsibility available in today's news headlines, requires of teachers a positive attitude, concrete positive examples, and thoughtful discussion of personal responsibility. (JH)

Presents a dialogue between Socrates and his Athenian admirers regarding the importance of educating youth for responsible citizenship. The manuscript was recently discovered by archivists of the Greek government and is assumed to be a record of a dialogue that occurred immediately after Socrates had been poisoned for his role in corrupting the…

Our first public policy goal is to ensure our survival as a free nation through the development of enlightened citizens. If social studies teachers are to develop the goals of citizenship education, an articulated K-12 social studies program is necessary. The objectives and themes of such a program are discussed. (RM)

Three steps are suggested to improve the social and political positions in our country and to approach the goal of American democracy: (1) citizens must learn the rules of the game, (2) have a willingness to acknowledge the existence of problems, and (3) develop civic competence. (Author/JB)

Describes the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Civic Education Study. Compares the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Civics Report Card with the IEA Civic Education Study. Focuses on the gaps in the NAEP that the IEA research will fill. (CMK)

A successful civic education program is one that educates citizens in the basic principles and precepts of the American political system and keeps citizens informed on specific issues and controversies. Jefferson and Lincoln both supported the sentiment that civic education must address basic principles as well as specific issues. (RM)

Offers an overview of the results from the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) United States Civic Education Study (CivEd). Focused on topics such as: civic achievement, different contexts of civic knowledge, student understanding of democracy, citizenship and government, student attitudes related to civic…

The major objective of the Improving Citizenship Education Project (ICE) of the Fulton County (Georgia) school system was to improve the knowledge and attitudes of K-12 students about political science and citizenship. The ICE program is described as a model for other school systems. (RM)

The possibility that technology can be used to provide qualified citizens direct access to and participation in political decision-making processes will influence the social studies curriculum like no other innovation or event in our history. Teachers must introduce basic concepts of responsibility and participation in terms of direct democracy.…

Asserts that the status of civics, a formal course of instruction in middle/junior high schools, is alarming. Maintains that civic or citizenship education is the central purpose of social studies. Provides a context and suggested content for a civics course. (CFR)