Policymakers face an array of challenges in improving how schools prepare students to be active citizens. Not the least of these is the increased pressure schools are facing from highstakes testing and the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act to focus limited resources on improving performance in areas such as reading, math and science.…

Author emphasizes that schools must examine their response to the 18-year-old vote phenomenon and guard against serving as an unwitting social tool for wrong ends. (Author/MB)

An evaluation is made of existing teacher guides and curricula, and proposals are given for curriculum improvements in the areas of Jurisprudence, Law, and Civics at the elementary and secondary level. (EJS)

Reviews the status of citizenship education. Proposes a model in which scholastic journalism takes a partnership role in civic education, thus strengthening high school journalism. (SR)

Describes a presentation and follow-up activities on citizenship that two high school teachers gave to a group of gifted middle school students. Notes that the principal responded positively to the students' letters regarding conditions at the school. Includes a letter from the principal responding to tenth graders' concerns. (SR)

Considers some challenges of teaching public journalism. Discusses how journalism educators can help students prepare for a career in the service of public life by teaching them how to actively involve citizens in the journalistic processes of gathering information, writing stories, and evaluating performance. Offers teaching applications and…

Suggests that teachers of middle and secondary students use the legal and ethical questions that have evolved around commercial advertising as a springboard to introduce students to the importance of ethical decision making in general. Discusses law versus ethics; why ethics is practically important; and ethical truthfulness. (SR)

Describes efforts by the Association of American Colleges and Universities in its American Commitments initiative to foster diversity in the context of undergraduate courses that probe the complexities of such democratic values as equality, opportunity, freedom, and justice. (DB)

Educators across academic environments seek to prepare students for participation in the development of a more just and caring society and world. In this paper, I explore the value of "art" and "aesthetics," broadly defined, as means of addressing these issues through citizenship education. After a brief historical review of the social studies, I…

This study investigates how the European dimension emerges in the various European member states' civics education curricula. Does an image of the European citizen appear alongside that of the national citizen or are the two still highly interwoven? Is the curricular goal primarily knowledge-based, that is, to know about Europe, or…

The extent to which people abhor or admire patriotism in the schools depends on how it is taught. If educators teach it narrowly as jingoistic, uncritical self-praise of the nation, then such instruction is wrong. It would be indoctrination rather than education. If, however, they teach civic education and define patriotism as a respectful…

The celebration and recognition of Constitution Day on September 17th is now required by federal law. The new law, known colloquially as the Byrd Amendment, requires all schools receiving any federal assistance, from kindergarten to higher education, to teach students about the Constitution on Constitution Day. The concept of a school's civic…

"Straight A's: Public Education Policy and Progress" is a biweekly newsletter that focuses on education news and events both in Washington, DC and around the country. The following articles are included in this issue: (1) NCLB Anniversary Prompts Renewed Calls for Reauthorization: Growth Models, High School Reform Emerge as Points of…

Canada prides itself on being an inclusive country. Immigrants from all over the world arrive in Canada's cities with their families because they feel welcome and safe. According to research, engagement towards social inclusion increased among Canadians during the last 30 last years. These changing values resulted in the creation of official…