The revised North Carolina Standard Course of Study has moved from a detailed, prescriptive curriculum guide to a more flexible instructional guide, emphasizing what students should know and be able to do as they progress through various levels of proficiency and ultimately exit from high school. The revised curriculum focuses on themes and…

The teaching of law and education for a law abiding behavior have without doubt been neglected in the German educational system. If schools have the task to teach students that they should become involved in a democratic society, that it is worth the effort to get involved in a democracy, then schools must teach their students the concepts and…

The conviction that democratic government rests on an informed electorate was the basis for establishing a free public-school system and State universities. The swift changes in our social and economic life and the complex nature of modern problems require educational facilities beyond the usual programs for children and youth. The agencies of…

Twenty-five years ago "history and civics" was the term generally applied to the efforts of the schools to explain man in society. The amount of civics in the combination is indicated by the fact that the committee of seven of the American Historical Association, reporting in 1898 on the study of history in the schools, recommended that…

The focus of citizen education has traditionally been on the institution of government. Instead, citizenship education should emphasize the teaching of democratic behavior and values and the practice of prosociality. Prosocial behavior is defined as actions that are intended to aid another person without the actor's anticipation of external…

High school students learn about city, county, and state government through field trips. Included are forms for debriefing and student and community agency staff evaluations, follow-up exercises, and lists of do's and don'ts for teacher planning. (SR)

Examines conditions leading to student misinformation and alienation in the teaching of the American political system at the secondary school level. Describes textbooks as idealizing the system and presenting blatant propaganda, dreary descriptions, and sugar-coated politics. Outlines curriculum goals to provide students with a positive but…

Compares selected United States history and civics textbooks from the 19th century with textbooks written from 1960 to 1980. Findings from this comparison indicated that despite differences in size and emphasis, stress and artistic appearance, United States history and civics texts of the present are essentially what they have always…

Reviews eight recent supplements, activity units, and kits useful for civics instruction at various grade levels, K-12. A special section lists eight sources of free and low-cost civics materials. (SJL)

Focuses on the U.S. Bill of Rights Fourth Amendment discussing what it means related to current technological advances, such as automobiles and computers. Provides information on court cases relevant to the Fourth Amendment, such as Atwater v. City of Lago Vista and City of Indianapolis v. Edmond. Lists ideas for learning activities. (CMK)

Focuses on the rights of youth in three articles: (1) "Equal Justice? Girls in the Juvenile Justice System"; (2) "Child Labor: An International Challenge"; and (3) "Should Minors Have Access to Violent Video Games?" Includes learning activities at the end of each article. (CMK)

Focuses on the many issues that the close 2000 presidential election brought to the forefront, such as: problems with the punch card systems, the need for convenient registration, the topic of provisional ballots, and the relevance of the Electoral College. (CMK)

Provides a lesson that focuses on the history of voter representation in the United States. Explains that students will read, "Whose Voice Is Heard,""How Should U.S. Elections Be Managed?," and other student handouts in this issue of "Insights on Law and Society." (CMK)

Questions the findings from the civics portion of the 1998 National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP). Instead of advocating a back-to-basics approach, believes that citizenship should be taught in ways that promote explorations of the social, political, and economic conditions in which the students live. (DAJ)

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…