Though citizenship education is a popular mission for public schools, it rests on a feeble conception of democratic citizenship that skirts social and cultural diversity. The article outlines a conception of democratic citizenship that is appropriate to pluralistic societies, and it describes appropriate participation, path, and assimilation in…

Investigates three approaches to citizenship education. The first examines how societies socialize their young, highlighting two key non-school citizenship education sites (social class and voluntary associations). The second addresses years of school attendance. The third looks inside schools, discussing curricular and extracurricular approaches.…

This book contributes to the debate between proponents of multicultural education and those who favor a cultural literacy approach. The book demonstrates that educating for democratic citizenship in a multicultural society includes a fundamental respect for diversity. It bridges the widening gap between multicultural education and civic education;…

Argues that, with the increasing diversity of the U.S. population, education needs to respond by figuring out a meaningful way to embrace values of civic unity and cultural diversity at the same time. Discusses problems encountered in addressing diversity within civic education and means to bridge the gap. (DSK)

States that while school's purpose is to educate citizens for a democratic community, they have yet to implement a K-12 curriculum for civic participation. Contends that schools can promote citizen participation by (1) helping students acquire knowledge of history and politics, (2) conducting schools as communities, and (3) providing opportunities…

Compared to home life, schools resemble crossroads, village squares, marketplaces, and cities. Increasing deliberative interactions among diverse students helps instill habits of behavior necessary for public life: the courtesies, manners, tolerance, respect, sense of justice, and knack for forging public policy with others. This article explains…

Comments that the National Commission on the Social Studies report, "Charting a Course: Social Studies for the 21st Century," (1989) failed to fully explore citizenship requirements of democracy. Argues that social studies at all levels should promote student analysis of controversial public issues and develop students' understanding of…

Argues that the United States always has possessed a unified political culture (representative democracy defined by compromise and consensus) and a fragmented ethnic and social culture. Claims that concerns about the divisive effect of multicultural education confuse the two realms. Suggests some curriculum topics that address both ideas. (MJP)