Citizenship education is now part of the United Kingdom's National Curriculum, and teachers across the country are working to make it a daily reality in schools. The purpose of this book is to show how education for active citizenship gives schools greater prominence as centers of social and civic renewal. Part 1 explores what citizenship…

The core mission of the social studies curriculum is education for democratic citizenship. The middle school years are an important time frame in which to fulfill that core mission. Policymakers, educators, community members, and parents need to recognize that civic education at the middle level years is important. One effective method for…

The American Philosopher Henry David Thoreau provides modern students an important perspective on the state and operation of democratic institutions and society. Many critics of his philosophy cite the author's inability to live up to his articulated tenets as grounds to dismiss the exhortative writings as idealistic and implausible. This essay…

The Higher Education Exchange is part of a movement to strengthen higher education's democratic mission and foster a more democratic culture throughout American society. Working in this tradition, the Higher Education Exchange publishes case studies, analyses, news, and ideas about efforts within higher education to develop more democratic…

Traces New Jersey Public Law 1972, Chapter 81, Bill S-992, granting adult status to 18-year-olds as an example of the legislative process in the State Legislature. (DS)

Provides a bibliography of 41 books and reports on character development themes such as values education, civic responsibility, family and societal influences, ethical instruction, traditional American and religious values, and parental involvement. (MLH)

Examines ethical problems that face teachers in the selection of literature and the experiences students have with it. Discusses ironic texts about social issues, didactic texts written from a particular cultural perspective, and "representative" texts intended to depict the experiences of a particular group of people. (SR)

A three-year project to reform civics curriculum in the Czech Republic tested a progressivist model by stressing behavioral objectives. A shift was made from subject-centered civic education to skill-based citizenship education based on the abilities needed for democracy. (SK)

Discussion of civic participation and higher education considers effects of the privatization of education, the importance of education for public participation, conflict between education's public and private purposes, John Dewey's ideas for educating students in citizenship, the theory of social capital in education for civic deliberation, and…

Discusses results of international study to determine what 14-year-olds in the United States and several other countries know and understand about citizenship, government, and the law. Reveals gaps in U.S. students' civic knowledge and participation. Calls for greater emphasis on civic education in schools. (PKP)

Describes fourth graders' performance on 30 questions from the National Assessment of Educational Progress 1998 Civics Assessment, showing questions answered correctly by at least 75%, more than 50%, more than 25%, and fewer than 25%. Includes samples of students' written responses. (Author/SLD)

Describes 12th graders' performance on 38 questions from the National Assessment of Educational Progress 1998 Civics Assessment, showing percentages of students who answered the questions correctly. Includes samples of students' written responses. (SLD)

This article offers an interconnected, grounded understanding of how two Gandhian endeavours in the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, make us rethink the notion of "education" in terms of civic and communal engagement. Drawing on local, vernacular ways of living, learning, being, reasoning, and believing--in this case Gujarati--I show…

The character of civics education is dependent on the world view in which it is embedded. Thus, citizenship education that is not explicitly committed to a vision of democratic citizenship will be shaped by the dominant ideology of our times: neo-liberalism. After contrasting neo-liberal and radical democratic perspectives on civics education, we…

Citizenship enables young people to learn about their rights and responsibilities, to understand how society works, and develop knowledge and understanding of social and political issues. Through citizenship education young people are encouraged to take action on issues of concern to themselves and to play an active part in the democratic process,…