Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 11120020
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED200473 AUTHOR: Butts, R. Freeman
TITLE: The Revival of Civic Learning: A Rationale for
Citizenship Education in American Schools.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1980
NOTE: 177 p.
AVAILABILITY: Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation,
Eighth and Union, Box 789, Bloomington, IN 47401 ($6.00).
ABSTRACT: The ideal of good citizenship is examined in
light of current social and political unrest brought about,
at least in part, by the agitation of special interest
groups. Emphasis is placed on the role of citizenship
education in the schools. The monograph is intended
particularly for educators who want to improve citizenship
education programs. The document is presented in five
chapters. Chapter one identifies the major citizenship
education challenge of the 1980s as the conflict between
privatism in politics (due to a deterioration of national
trust in the political system) and pluralism in education
(resulting from attitudes that glorified doing one's own
thing and from the belief that authority for education
should rest primarily with the diverse pluralistic
communities in American society). Chapter two contrasts
ideas of citizenship in modern democratic societies and in
Greco-Roman republics. Chapter three presents an historical
perspective on citizenship education in the United States
from the 1770s to the 1970s. Chapter four identifies major
approaches to reform of civic education, including academic
disciplines (particularly, history and sociology), law
related education, social problems, critical thinking,
values education, moral development, community involvement,
and institutional school reform. The final chapter offers
suggestions for improving citizenship education programs,
including incorporating political values, political
knowledge, and the skills of political participation into
the curriculum; encouraging common understanding of and
commitment to democratic values; and encouraging student
understanding of citizenship concepts such as justice,
freedom, equality, diversity, authority, privacy, due
process, participation, and international human rights.
(DB)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Critical-Thinking; Educational-History;
Educational-Trends; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Moral
Development; Political-Influences; Social-Studies; Values-
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Citizenship-Education;
*Educational-Needs;
*Educational-Objectives
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