"Sound-Bite Saboteurs" examines the emergence of a multifaceted, multimedia culture that encourages the use of sound bites to silence one's opponents at the expense of democratic deliberation and debate. No simple partisan phenomenon or mere attempt to "spin" a particular issue, sound-bite sabotage is, the authors argue, a…

"Education and Gendered Citizenship in Pakistan" challenges the uncritical use of the long held dictum of the development discourse that education empowers women. Situated in the post-structuralist feminist position, it argues that in its current state the educational discourse in Pakistan actually disempowers women. Through a systematic…

This book defends the democratic ideal of education and elaborates its implications for educational practices in the United States today. The volume contends democracy is not merely a political process of rule by majorities or pluralities, but it is also a political ideal of a society whose adult members are, and continue to be, equipped by their…

The preamble to Montana's constitution, which expresses gratitude for Montana's landscape, reflects an understanding that the political culture of a place is not something apart from the place itself. By the same token, the strengthening of political culture must take place and must be studied in the context of very specific places and the people…

This book is a collection of essays on political education for democratic citizenship in higher education developed out of meetings over 5 years of a small group of faculty, administrators and students who gathered to discuss the way academia was educating young people for political responsibility. Following a foreword and an introduction by…

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…

This book contends that diversity is often to be highly valued, but not always. It should be remembered that many forms of social and religious diversity are at odds with basic commitments to liberty, equality, and civic ideals. The book argues that liberalism has an important but neglected civic dimension, and liberal democrats must take care to…

Typically, school curriculum has been viewed through the lens of preparation for the workplace or higher education--both worthy objectives. However, this is not the only lens, and perhaps not even the most powerful one to use, if the goal is to optimize the educational system. "Curriculum on the Edge of Survival" attempts to define basic aspects…

This book argues that the most basic purpose of America's schools is to teach children the moral and intellectual responsibilities of living and working in a democracy. It contains essays that explore the meaning of democracy and its implications for preparing teachers and teaching students. The book contains a discussion of critical questions…

What is social studies but the preparation of an active, informed, and critical citizenry? Primarily, the social studies should not rely on memorizing questionable "facts," but should focus on transformative approaches that allow critical analysis and problem solving on issues within history, government, and economics. Noting that…

The 20 essays in this book will open eyes to what really goes on in the classroom and on the school board. The author draws on his extensive experience to examine some of the hottest educational issues including school reform, civic education, the function of honor societies, the decline of reading and writing skills, the role of guidance…

This second volume of the Bochum Studies in International Adult Education presents a variety of different perspectives on the topics of citizenship and civil society. Its goal is to give an overview of the European discourse on citizenship and civil society and on the discourse in some selected countries. Part I is comprised of the first of 14…

Although this book concedes that people lack political information and that this ignorance can allow people "of sinister designs" to deceive and betray the uninformed, it does not concede that democracy must succumb to these threats. Rather, the book argues that limited information need not prevent people from making reasoned choices,…

This seminar discussed the civic preparation that educators themselves need to enable them to better prepare elementary and secondary students to become more effective and responsible citizens. The proceedings began with a paper on "Civil Learning for Teachers: Capstone for Educational Reform," by R. Freeman Butts. Following this, the five general…

Educators, politicians and the media are using the concept of citizenship in new contexts and giving it new meanings. Citizenship can serve to unite a diverse population or to marginalise and exclude. The authors argue that, with the introduction of citizenship in school curricula, there is an urgent need for developing the concept of cosmopolitan…