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The Challenges of Civic Education

The Challenges of Civic Education. Presentation to “Congress in the Classroom” 2001 The Dirksen Congressional Center Bradley University August 8, 2001. Is there anything to worry about?. Contemporary concern for “civics” Lack of engagement ( “Bowling Alone” ) Lack of knowledge

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The Challenges of Civic Education

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  1. The Challenges of Civic Education Presentation to “Congress in the Classroom” 2001 The Dirksen Congressional Center Bradley University August 8, 2001

  2. Is there anything to worry about? • Contemporary concern for “civics” • Lack of engagement (“Bowling Alone”) • Lack of knowledge • Lack of skills, attentiveness • Lack of commitment • Lack of appreciation for the political process • In global perspective…

  3. Education’s Three Core Issues • Curriculum • Content • Pedagogy

  4. Curriculum • Usually defined as an education “plan” encompassing intended outcomes and related strategies for achieving those goals. • Beyond a plan, it serves as • A policy statement of goals and commitments • A political statement reflecting those choices of goals and commitments • A social statement about the role of education in society • A philosophy of education. • Example: UK National Curriculum

  5. Content • What should be taught? • Important as • Guide for course/materials development • Standards for assessing performance • Example: • National Science Education Standards

  6. Pedagogy • How should students be taught? • Focus on teaching • Instructor-centered • Student-centered • Content-centered • Focus on learning • Theories and strategies

  7. Controversies • Within each there is debate over fundamentals • Curriculum: Canonists vs. multiculturalists • Content: Objectivists vs. constructivists • Pedagogy: Teaching vs. learning • Among the three, central issue = which is to drive the education process?

  8. Civic Education’s Curriculum Issues

  9. Patriotism & Moral Education in the Classroom • Legislated patriotism • Virginia and the Pledge • Minnesota and Maryland proposals • New Hampshire and Civics • Moral education • Utah’s Character Education project (Stories) • Association for Moral Education (Dilemmas) • Character Counts

  10. Deliberative & Critical Approaches • Deliberative Democracy • National Issues Forums • Study Circles • Co-Intelligence • Teaching Democracy • Dialogue to Action Initiative • Critical Thinking • Critical Thinking Community (Resources) • Mission Critical

  11. Knowledge National Standards for Civics and Government National Assessment of Educational Progress 1998 Civics Report Card – Major findings Skills Service learning Corporation for National Service Center for Democracy and Citizenship Civic Education’s Content Issues • Orientation: Trust for Representative Democracy

  12. Are our students “teachable”? Diverse learning styles Multiple intelligences Stages of development Educating “nomads” Are our teachings “learnable”? Relevance of national focus Localism Globalism No heros, no theories Age of cynicism, skepticism, indifference Civic Education’s Pedagogy Issues

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