President Barack Obama once said he believes that he learned how to be a good citizen by reading novels. In this article, Laura Tavares looks at the ways that ELA teachers can use fiction to illustrate social and ethical awareness, humility, and a tolerance for difference--all traits that are necessary to be a good citizen. By putting themselves…

Graduates of the John Stanford Public Service and Political Science Academy at Franklin High School in Seattle, Washington, leave school with self-confidence and a fiery sense of civic duty, giving back to their communities in crucial ways. Students tackle civic and ethical issues daily in the classroom, and the service-learning projects they…

In an education environment focused on high-stakes testing in reading and math, service learning may seem like an unnecessary frill. But well-planned service learning projects can enhance student engagement in school and give students opportunities to use academic skills and knowledge to make a difference in their communities. This article gives…

At a time when the United States faces unprecedented challenges at home and abroad, public schools must do far more to prepare young people to be engaged, ethical advocates of "liberty and justice for all." This article explores what makes some people behave ethically--even at the risk of their own lives--and asserts that developing…

Describes the aims, benefits, and challenges of service-learning programs in public schools. (PKP)

Via an imaginary job interview between John Dewey and a curriculum administrator seeking an ideal citizenship education coordinator, this article defines good citizenship as steadfast pursuit of the public interest, not the interests of power wielders fostering uncritical patriotism. Curricula should encourage student responsibility and focus on…

Provides an annotated list of organizations offering materials related to citizenship education, including Citizenship Development for a Global Age, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, Educators for Social Responsibility, and several others. Educators are also advised to contact social studies specialists at their state education agencies for…

By training children to be good citizens of local communities, as well as good citizens of the national community within which the local communities are nested, one accepts diversity of culture and style as a basic good. (Author)

Citizenship is not synonymous with obedience; in our society it requires both loyalty and independent thinking. (Author/MLF)

Although not reknown for democratic organization, schools must provide experiences that teach what Alexis de Tocqueville called the "habits of the heart," or the sensibilities of democratic responsibility. Citizenship education must engage students in activities demanding both high self-regard and recognition of each person's…

Choice Awareness is a cognitive-affective-behavioral system designed to help young people and adults understand the continuous nature of their choices and to take more effective control in their own lives. (Author)

The crisis in American education is converging with an equally significant concern: the unchecked destruction of our natural environment. Through its Science Institutes for youth, the National Audubon Society is helping teachers foster appreciation for the natural world and produce the know-how to conserve it. Programs in Maryland, District of…

Practicing lawyers are teaching teachers and their pupils to understand and appreciate the law, with the aim of developing responsible citizens who will use the law as a positive, constructive force in their lives. (JD)

Defying "liberal" and "conservative" labels, Communitarianism is a new social movement reflected in George Bush's endorsement of family values and Bill Clinton's calls for community service. Communitarianism does not uphold the individual's rights at all costs, nor impose moral solutions. The Communitarian agenda is to…

Although there is no lack of interest in social action among children, educators often lack necessary skills and experience. Teaching citizenship involvement requires not a new curriculum, but extension of a subject into real life. To succeed, teachers must grasp four concepts (problem, process, products, and presentation) hinging on students'…