Asserts that social studies teacher educators can develop future teachers' commitment to student service learning. Describes and reports on a study of a community service-learning program for elementary preservice social studies teachers. (CFR)

Purpose: The success of schools fundamentally depends on teachers' willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty, namely, to exhibit organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs). Attempts to understand the causes of OCB frequently focus on individual characteristics; only recently have researchers begun to direct their attention to more…

Reports on a study of the political attitudes and views toward elections among 140 Nigerian secondary students. Argues that, if schools are to play a significant role in Nigeria, it is essential for social studies educators to try to improve the current orientation of students toward elections. (CFR)

We present the results of a literature review of studies on teaching strategies for moral education in secondary schools (1995-2003). The majority of the studies focus on the "what" and "why", i.e. the objectives, of curriculum-oriented moral education. Attention to the instructional formats for enhancing the prosocial and moral development of…

This digest addresses the decline in the willingness of U.S. youth to participate in service to the community or nation and suggests service learning as a possible remedy for the decline. There are long-term benefits of service learning: (1) helping to build community support for education; (2) facilitating a closer bond between school, community,…

Between 1976 and 1982, teenagers improved their performance on citizenship/social studies items measuring political knowledge and attitudes--13-year-olds by nearly three percentage points and 17-year-olds by about two percentage points. Results for the various population groups indicated that improvements tended to be greater for lower achieving…

The Bradley Commission on History in Schools was created in 1987 specifically in response to the widespread concern over the inadequacy, both in quantity and in quality, of the history taught in elementary and secondary school classrooms. This book explores the conditions that contribute to, or impede, the effective teaching of history in schools.…

Contends that educational reform efforts have neglected the values of civic education and its implications for civic and social life. Asserts that this is not true in Europe where an increasing focus on the European dimension in education has a strong civic education component. (CFR)

Thirteen authors reflect on different ideas of communitarianism and citizenship and on the ways those ideas find application in the fields of education, politics, and social welfare. Looking beyond communitarian ideology, the volume offers a more detailed discussion of citizenship in contemporary society. The essays are: (1) "Beyond…

Maintains that citizenship education is at the center of social studies instruction. Asserts that citizenship responsibilities can be taught in the K-12 classroom. Presents three case studies of teachers using classroom techniques to improve student's support for democratic values. (CFR)

Describes the development of Scottish educational principles and ideas from the Reformation era to the Education Act of 1872 and beyond. Asserts that, even after the state's role in education superseded that of the church, the concept of shared rights and responsibilities remained a primary educational goal. (CFR)

Examines the political beliefs of social studies education professors and social studies teachers. Reports that the political ideology of the professors was more liberal than that of the social studies teachers. Suggests that these differences in outlook have an effect on the way social studies is taught because of differing definitions of good…

Questions whether the transmission of norms and values is an appropriate function of liberal education as envisioned in a liberal constitutional state (The Netherlands). Draws a distinction between the inculcation of intellectual virtues and indoctrination. Presents a cogent analysis of the concepts and objectives of liberal education for…

Reports on a sociological research project that explored how a new generation of teachers in Greece, Spain, Portugal, England, and Wales understood the concept of citizenship and how gender relates to it. The data suggests that specific gender and cultural groups may posses their own notions of citizenship. (MJP)

Examines enrollment trends in Germany and France around 1900 to determine whether democratic values and citizenship education were significant factors in increased enrollment in secondary schools. Maintains that the curriculum offered by elite secondary schools echoed the idealized attributes of the former governing elites. (CFR)