How is it that neoliberal education policies, often lacking evidentiary basis, come to be endorsed--often by the very people they alienate and marginalize? This work seeks to expose how this kind of exclusive policy is sold to a public through intricate hortatory tools. Using critical policy analysis with an emphasis on historical development and…

Teacher education is charged with the goal of training teachers who will prepare the next generation of citizens. Since Horace Mann's common schools, teachers have been the purveyors of political education, often through teaching patriotic songs and celebrated historical events and individuals. Through liberal education and critical pedagogy,…

An investigation of a cognitive-perceptual model to measure adolescents' feelings of political alienation is reported. The model hypothesizes that fundamental to the political alienation process is a feared actual or potential loss of freedom; this process is called psychological reactance. The sample consisted of 460 senior high school students…

Noting a current trend to remove social studies education from the first through third grades, the author's review of literature reveals that early learning lays the foundation for political socialization. Weissburg (1974) suggests that three models account for different types of socialization at different stages of life. Early political learning…

The effectiveness of sex research models which measure adolescents' feelings of political alienation is investigated and discussed and a new model is formulated. The six models include life dissatisfaction, personal depreciation, critical perceptions of political reality, irrational beliefs, perceptions of political threat, and cognitive…

To aid teachers of nineteenth century English history as they develop curriculum and seek educational objectives, the article offers an essay review of approximately one dozen major works which interpret Victorian England in different ways. Included are standard and revisionist historical works. (DB)

Two types of programs are currently targeted specifically toward adult Aboriginal people in Australia: (1) compensatory programs that are designed to compensate for lapses and defects in the education they have received in the regular educational system; and (2) support programs based on provision of academic support, personal support, and an…

There is increasing evidence that what we call civic education embraces only a part of the influences operating on a people, and may well be among the less important. There are a number of practical obstacles to the success of civic education in political socialization. The multifunctionality that allows schools to have so many favorable effects,…

Assesses the role of the larger social system in determining policies and objectives of the educational system in the United States, Great Britain, and West Germany. Emphasizes the role of social/political education in trying to relate to recent economic trends such as the economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s and the economic crisis of the 1970s.…

"Learning to Be," a project authored by the International Commission on the Development of Education, is criticized for its reliance on science and technology to solve social problems. "Defensive education," based more on political consciousness and action, is proposed as a better solution to the educational needs of society. (MW)

The author presents major criticisms to Paulo Freire's work and offers some useful insights into the nature and limitations of the political aspects of his thought. (Falmer Press, Falmer House, Barcombe, Nr Lewes, East Sussex BN8 5DL, UK) (SSH)

Points out ways in which concepts from the discipline of political science can be useful in teaching American government and history. Emphasis is placed on helping students understand basic political action choices and decision-making strategies through group work in the social studies classroom. (DB)

Examining change in terms of rate, type, source, and scope, this study explores these dimensions as they relate to the struggle of Mexican Americans in realizing the benefits and detriments of an open society. A morphology of educational change, implications for the Mexican American, and research notes are developed. It is concluded that education…

The goal of civic education, as discussed in this paper, is responsible political activism. Although the word activism tends to conjure a negative image of a revolutionary student body for some, the term is used here to express active participation in the decision making process, respect for others' opinions, and upholding one's beliefs. In this…

This paper presents six generalizations based on political education research and discusses their implications for teaching citizenship in the public schools. In drawing the implications, it was assumed that citizenship education is designed to promote higher political knowledge, interest, trust, tolerance of dissent, and intellectual and…