Discusses the report of a subcommittee of the Committee of Ten dealing with history, civil government, and the political economy. Describes the makeup of the committee, its goals, and its findings on ways to improve the school curriculum. Explains that the committee advocated a broad social studies approach to the teaching of history. (DK)

This article describes the law-related education (LRE) programs instituted by the United States Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). By linking legal and constitutional matters to everyday life, the programs aim to bring alive for elementary through high school students legal statutes that often…

This collection of research findings by several organizations quantifies public ignorance of the U.S. Constitution and the success of the "We the People...The Citizen and the Constitution Program" in addressing the problem. Surveys by the American Bar Association, the Hearst Corporation, the National Assessment of Education Progress, the…

Community service is reemerging as an important focus for secondary education. This report, the culmination of a Ford Foundation project, considers independent schools' role in encouraging community service. Specifically, the project attempted to identify community service programs in private schools affiliated with the National Association of…

Describes a program called the Character Education Curriculum developed by the American Institute for Character Education that is the most widely used plan for teaching the basic traits of character, conduct, and citizenship. (MD)

Presents study results exploring the potential of a civics curriculum in developing a willingness to acknowledge the civil liberties of unpopular groups. Includes an overview of research on political tolerance and literature focusing on the shortcomings of traditional civics curricula. Argues that adolescence is an ideal period for teaching issues…

This paper provides an overview of U.S. Department of Education programs authorized and funded under federal law. It includes information as well on the laboratories, centers, and other facilities funded by the Department that provide important resources for education. Readers will find funding information, contact information, and a web site for…

Asserts that social studies in North America has been defined most often as fundamentally concerned with preparing students for participation in civic life. Reviews research and summarizes findings on citizenship education in English Canada since 1988. (CFR)

The implicit power of modern communications technologies to improve citizenship education is explored in this paper. The relationship between the use of educational technology and the effectiveness of social studies instruction are only beginning to be studied, and these inquiries have been focused more upon the "harder" science…

Disputes the case for educational reform based on discussions of developing productivity and citizenship in the populace. The author theorizes that the degradation (or deskilling) of work and politics has undermined the ideological rationale for the social need of a general education. General education only makes sense if it is seen as an end in…

Discusses the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child as it seeks to establish the right of children to participate in discussions and decisions about their own situations. Includes action taken by children around the world to promote participation. Stresses the necessity of participation to become responsible, active citizens in a democracy.…

Civics and social-studies educators worry that schools are neglecting to show the complex and difficult sides of democracy, including the importance of debate and dissent. Strategies to help young people grow into citizens include encouraging critical thinking, teaching students to understand other points of view, and linking service learning to…

In a paper presented in July 2003 to Labour's National Policy Forum, the main policy-making body in the United Kingdom, Liam Byrne, a research associate of the Social Market Foundation, forecast the major problems that will face government in Britain in 2020. As reported in the "Guardian" (9 August 2003): "British national…

Like other public policies, education policies are laden with values and are often highly "ideologically charged." Given this close entanglement with value conflicts or dilemmas, it is no longer valid or feasible to pursue seemingly value-free or value-neutral analysis when studying policies. Since education policy is contested terrain,…

Contends that there is an almost universal demand for the reform of the postsecondary curriculum in England and Wales. Explores the relationships among postmodernism, self-actualization, and empowerment. Presents a holistic empowerment model and relates it to current issues regarding curriculum reform. (CFR)