Results of a Wingspread conference which focused on future directions in social studies education are presented. Part 1 contains the personal statements of conference speakers. Topics include the restructuring of social studies, what social knowledge is of the greatest worth, how to best prepare enlightened citizens for the 21st century, four…

Social studies must educate students to be socially responsible, civically competent persons. In addition to encouraging civic literacy, civic values, and civic skill, teachers need to help students develop civic-mindedness. The objective of the NCSS' National Issues Forum in the Classroom Project is to develop students' civic intelligence. (RM)

Criticizes current citizenship education that often results in antidemocratic attitudes due to obvious conflicts between the classroom and society and a rigid socialization process discouraging critical examination, questioning, and participation by youth. Encourages an approach whereby students can effectively participate and feel confident they…

Maintains that the world is nearing the end of a great age of democratic revolutions. Asserts that civic or citizenship education is in danger of being sidetracked by the national educational reform movement. Argues that "CIVITAS," a civic education curriculum framework, provides a model for effective citizenship education. (CFR)

The Pledge of Allegiance is the focus of this citizenship guide for elementary educators. The Pledge can be an important first step in citizenship education and civic values in a pluralistic and multicultural society. Understanding the Pledge can also help lay the foundation for future understanding of more complex documents such as the…

The document presents a paper outlining moral education as a focus for developmental education. Three critiques of the paper are also presented. Developmental theorists believe that the individual's moral judgment progresses through a series of irreversible stages. The educational objective is to assist or stimulate stage-by-stage progression of…

Introduces the range of goals that service learning promises to achieve, noting specific principles that can help meet those goals. Information is based on a six-year study of experiential education combining academic and field research. A conceptual framework for organizing the planning, development, and evaluation of service and experiential…

The main goal of Education for Democratic Citizenship is the building of a modern and democratic society, meaning a high level of political, ethical, social, and cultural conscience within its membership. Within the scope of the initiated reforms of the education system in Serbia, Education for Democratic Citizenship is primarily focused on a…

Describes the purpose of the Lenin corner in the school and how that purpose dictates its character. Suggests possible topics and literature for the corner. (JB)

Traces the general shift from broad, national curriculum reform programs in political education in the United States to smaller, more localized projects. Presents examples of local projects, with particular emphasis on a citizenship education program sponsored by the Georgia State Department of Education. (Author/DB)

Four theoretical approaches to moral/citizenship education are described and compared. Positive and negative aspects of the cognitive-decision, developmental, prosocial, and values approaches are discussed and ways of relating the four approaches to each other are suggested. The first approach, cognitive-decision, is distinctive for its…

Proposes constructive ways for discussing controversial issues in the social studies classroom. Develops an educational goal and a rationale for controversial issues discussions. Explicates six strategies for addressing controversial values issues, and discusses the problem of whether the teacher should disclose their position. (SLM)

Argues that citizenship education must include an examination of the great issues of the times using active, critical teaching methods and reflective inquiry. Maintains that this is necessary to prevent political apathy in young people. Briefly discusses the history of social studies educational reform and the creation of national standards. (MJP)

Argues that economic literacy is necessary for an informed opinion about the factors influencing our society and government. Maintains that, currently, high school students' misinformation about economic facts and their inability to perform economic analysis puts our economy at risk. Advocates increasing objective and nonpartisan economics…

The report identifies instruments for measuring citizen education improvement efforts in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The document is presented in three sections. The first section outlines evaluation criteria and reviews literature related to testing and citizenship assessment. Materials reviewed are reports of citizenship assessment…