Civic Education in America.

Overview & Synopsis

The liberal and participatory-republican models of what constitutes a democratic citizen have implications for the civics curriculum and for the structure of secondary school institutions. The major problem with civic education today is a lack of integration, reflecting a liberal conception of education which sees the role of politics in our lives as minimal and, therefore, minimizes the functions of overt civic education. The participatory-republican model, on the other hand, holds politics to be an intrinsic part of an individual's life and requires a civic education characterized by constant public activities and exercises and would require an integration of the high school curriculum. For example, the lessons of history (necessary to guide an individual as he acts in the present), and communication and rhetorical skills (necessary for effective citizen participation) would be fully integrated into a civics course. Under this model, not only social studies, but the entire curriculum would address itself to citizenship education. And, lastly, the school structure itself would change under this model. For example, one viable alternative structure, the system of education vouchers, would have an effect on education. (RM)