The inclusion of religion in public education remains contentious in many countries, including Canada. As multiple religions fill the public sphere, some religious education is necessary if Canadians are to understand each other. Social studies is seen as an appropriate subject to include such education given its foci on diversity and citizenship.…

This article explores the theoretical underpinnings of citizenship education as well as issues relating to educational practice to identify and discuss challenges that divided societies, which are characterized by conflicting national or cultural identities, may face in the development and implementation of such programs. Formal education…

Using the yardsticks of independence and equality, an analysis of the literature on youth from a citizenship perspective can track youth's citizenship status and capacity to become full citizens. For young people, education is an avenue to either exclusion or independence and equality. For example, dropouts are more likely to live in poverty, and…

Drawing on nine focus groups with secondary students in southern Ontario, we investigated secondary students' perceptions of, and experiences with, school codes of conduct and their application. While generally supporting the "big" rules such as no weapons, students engaged more critically with minor ones. We drew on Foucault's…

This study elicited the views of students in secondary social studies teacher education programs to compare students' views with the views of policy experts to identify the intersection of agreement or consensus on the changing nature of citizenship. The study also makes recommendations for teacher training curricula and pedagogy to prepare these…

The sharp decline in voter participation among Canadian youth requires an examination of how our students are being prepared for democratic citizenship. Public schools, including programs falling under the purview of career education, provide the means to prepare learners for vocational, community, and political participation. In Canada, career…

This ERIC Digest reports on the origins, purposes, and methods of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) Civic Education Study. In 1993, the General Assembly of the IEA decided to carry out a two phase study of civic education. The goal of the two phase study was to identify and examine in a comparative…

Reviews two books on the political socialization which occurs in secondary schools. Also looks at several other research studies on this topic. Concludes there is a lack of progress in developing an effective citizenship education program in the United States and Canada. (RKM)

In this article a seventh and eighth grade teacher presents some of the materials and procedures he followed in staging an election to teach the skills and concepts of voting. (Author/RM)

This resource was developed to involve Alberta, Canada, students, teachers, and communities with the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics. It supports implementation of the Alberta Programs of Study and provides activities related to the concepts of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics and school events. Student learning outcomes are…

Describes the community participation facet of the eleventh-grade social studies curriculum for British Columbia. Proposes a four-stage model to identify, study, and propose recommendations about a community issue or problem. Suggests that social action based on empirical research improves social studies instruction. (CFR)

The role of the U.S. Constitution as a model for an influence on the establishment of governments in other nations offers an effective vehicle for expanding education about this nation's civic values, rights, and responsibilities. By studying how the ideas and principles of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights have been adopted, adapted,…

The Integrated Occupational Program (I.O.P.) was developed in Alberta, Canada for students who have experienced difficulty in learning. The I.O.P. Social Studies 16 Program, like all I.O.P. curricular documents, has adopted the format of combining the program of studies and the curriculum guide into one document. The following aspects of the…

This textbook (for high school students) presents a thorough discussion of basic political and economic systems. Divided into two sections (political systems and economics systems), each chapter identifies the concepts that students learn; defines new terms introduced in the chapter; highlights in color, key terms and phrases; provides activities…

Designed to help classroom teachers of Alberta, Canada, this teacher resource manual implements the Integrated Occupational Social studies 26 Program, the primary goals of which are to enhance students' self-esteem and provide opportunities for students to develop into responsible citizens. The manual contains the following materials: additional…