Via an imaginary job interview between John Dewey and a curriculum administrator seeking an ideal citizenship education coordinator, this article defines good citizenship as steadfast pursuit of the public interest, not the interests of power wielders fostering uncritical patriotism. Curricula should encourage student responsibility and focus on…

Reviews constitutional history and principles, highlighting our federal republic's dual sovereignties, American citizenry as "ruling class," schooling for citizenship, the original Constitution's defects, and projects to amend the Constitution and approach the democratic ideal. Advises against a second constitutional convention because…

Although not reknown for democratic organization, schools must provide experiences that teach what Alexis de Tocqueville called the "habits of the heart," or the sensibilities of democratic responsibility. Citizenship education must engage students in activities demanding both high self-regard and recognition of each person's…

The purpose of this essay is to show a way that college students can be brought to understand that it is in their interest to be good citizens of a good regime. Aristotle's formulations of distributive justice as they appear in his "Nicomachean Ethics" and "Politics" are used in the discussion. (RM)

Discusses the grounds for political obligation, adapting John Searle's argument about 'promising' to the case of voting. Presents a method for citizenship education which specifies a path to political obligation based upon participation. Concludes that participation, specifically voting, leads to political obligation. (GEA)

The essays in this collection, rewritten and expanded especially for this volume, originated as papers that were presented at a 1993 conference on Education for Democracy sponsored by the Mershon Center at The Ohio State University. The contributors from the United States, South Africa, Germany, and Russia, are experts in civic education, problems…

The Canadian article presents a rationale for including citizenship education in special classes for retarded students, and outlines some citizenship objectives for the retarded. (DLS)

Evaluates efforts to incorporate ethical instruction into schooling through emphasis on citizenship and moral competence. Labels such efforts "moral vocationalism." Suggests that the movement has a weak knowledge base, relies upon behaviorist principles, and is exclusively instrumentalist. Recommends fortifying the approach with…

Our first public policy goal is to ensure our survival as a free nation through the development of enlightened citizens. If social studies teachers are to develop the goals of citizenship education, an articulated K-12 social studies program is necessary. The objectives and themes of such a program are discussed. (RM)

If students are to fulfill their obligations and rights as U.S. citizens they must develop the ability to make careful judgements, based on a reasoned historical perspective and a meaningful conception of the basic democratic values underlying citizenship in our constitutional order. To this end, an agenda of 12 core civic values that are…

Analyzes three characteristics of American public culture that help explain our civic quietism: (1) lack of meaningful information for making informed decisions; (2) lack of democratic rights in the workplace; and (3) lack of a cooperative social vision. American schools as presently organized provide few opportunities for learning and…

Presents the author's reflections on the importance of the United States Constitution and on the Constitution Bicentennial as an opportunity to stimulate public awareness and appreciation for the Constitution. (MCG)

Educators respond to David Mathews's article addressing the need for teaching students to be civically competent. (RM)

The conventional way of thinking about politics keeps us from studying the important work that citizens must do to achieve political efficacy. Students learn the procedures of government as if politics were a spectator sport. While everyone learns about the politics of government, there is little discussion about the politics of the public. Unless…

The basic paradox of citizenship education in the United States is that the first steps toward the rational, autonomous, critical-minded citizen required by a democracy are necessarily non-rational and based on an unquestioned deference to authority. The movement from the morality of authority to the morality of principle constitutes the challenge…