Harold O. Rugg was one of a small group of leaders of the Progressive Education Movement centered at Teachers College, Columbia University, and a leader among the Social Frontier group that emerged in the 1930s to argue that schools should play a stronger role in helping to reconstruct the society. He was the author of an innovative and best…

The "Education for Democracy Act," authorized by the United States Congress, provides funding through the U.S. Department of Education to support programs designed to assist educators in creating and implementing civic education programs both at home and abroad. One such program is Civitas: An International Civic Education Exchange…

Recognizing that democracy is not a static concept and that it should be learned and lived on a daily basis, the Council of Europe has named 2005 the European Year of Citizenship through Education. Citizens of European Union (EU) member countries face new challenges in their participation as citizens in a democratic society. While EU citizenship…

This paper presents a discussion of Howard Zinn's intellectual and political ideas. Through the analysis of selections from his immense body of work, several interrelated themes emerge. Drawing more attention to these notions of dissent and democracy is crucial to revitalizing education at all levels and vital to advancing the public discourse…

Over the past few years, there has been considerable explication of what it means to think historically. According to this research literature, expert historians think about such issues as placing historical events within context and chronology, considering the differing perspectives of participants in events, and taking the bias and intention of…

On Sept. 11, 2001, nineteen men crashed four airplanes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. Their goals were to strike at symbols of American power, and to kill as many Americans as possible. The 9/11 Commission looked at this event from many different vantage points--from airport security to intelligence,…

Discusses the transition to democratic government in the Republic of Latvia and the role of civic education in that process. Describes Latvia's history and demography, the Latvian constitution and government structure, the process of democratization, and the role of civic education organizations like the Democracy Advancement Center. (DSK)

Presents an overview of civic education for democracy in Poland. Focuses on the largest, most comprehensive project, Education for Democratic Citizenship in Poland (EDCP). Discusses the context of civic education, project origins and goals, international partnerships, project funding, project-developed curricula, teacher-education activities, and…

Explores topics related to civic education for democracy in post-communist Hungary. Includes discussions of the context and history of civic education in Hungary, challenges to the emergence of democratic civic education and principal approaches to it, and the roles of international civic education partners in this process. (DSK)

Because of its inherent political nature, projects for developing civic education in emerging democracies have often been criticized for being a tool for hegemonic control by the "West." Much of these suspicions have been pointed at the United States (US) due to the government's policy of supporting educational reform in emerging…

When students learn about history in elementary schools across the United States, they take tests and write essays explaining what happened in the past. It is not clear, however, that students necessarily "think about" history. Yet if students know dates and names, but not the meanings of events or how those events connect to other…

In this article, the author synthesizes a collection of scholarship done by, and on, Thomas Jesse Jones and Carter G. Woodson as a source for understanding historical conceptions of citizenship education for African Americans. The author contends that Jones and Woodson played central roles in constructing competing conceptions of citizenship…

As the new democratic republics of Eastern Europe experience sweeping transformations in their political, economic, and social institutions, their educational systems must also undergo changes to address the new roles and responsibilities of citizens. The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of these changes in two specific contexts,…

Throughout human existence, changes in technology have influenced human life. Innovations in technology also impact civic life. Radio and television became prominent fixtures in the United States in the twentieth century. In entering the twenty-first century, another technological innovation, the Internet, emerged as a new factor in civic life.…

Observes that the international civic education program Civitas has been of great benefit to both the Czech Republic and cooperating U.S. states. Discusses background factors in the Czech Republic, civic education projects underway in that country, and a program introduced into Czech civic education as a result of the partnership. (DSK)