A Theoretical Model of Four Conceptions of Civic Education

Overview & Synopsis

The field of civic education is one that encompasses an abundance of topics and issues. In an attempt to bring some much needed clarity to this field, this conceptual study will question the way different epistemological conceptions of citizenship and education influence the characteristics of civic education. Offering a new conceptual framework that concentrates on the different undercurrent conceptions that lay at the base of the civic education process, a new typology of the term civic education will be presented. With the use of the methods of ideal types, four conceptions of civic education will be brought forth: "Liberal Civic Education"; "Diversity Civic Education"; "Critical Civic Education" and "Republican Civic Education." After describing these conceptions and the theoretical field on which they are based, the potential applications of these conceptions in the classrooms and in research will be presented. (Contains 1 table, 2 figures, and 1 footnote.)