Political education is a loaded expression, and even more so when it is suggested that state authorities should be in charge of it. The main claim from the author in this article is that, in contexts of sufficient political pluralism, political education should more firmly be taken in charge by primary and secondary schools. In the first section,…

Globalization has become one of the most recurrent concepts in social and political sciences. More often than not, however, the concept is handled without much of a properly articulated theory capable of explaining its historical origin and expansion. For education researchers attempting to elucidate how global changes and processes affect their…

Reviews findings on early political learning in U.S. elementary and secondary schools. Identifies counterproductive practices and presents alternatives which might better prepare students for responsible and competent participation in democratic society. (JDH)

Identifies the better known Anglo-American liberal political theories and critically analyzes the values that underlie these theories (i.e. individualism, proceduralism, tolerance, science, and objectivity). Provides an alternative to the present liberal pedagogy and suggests implications for future political education. (JDH)

Discusses political education in the postwar Federal Republic of Germany. Describes a U.S. led reeducation program founded upon principles of denazification and democracy and examines German responses. Identifies the influence of the Soviet Union upon West German education. Analyzes the growth of political education in the 1960s, its maturation,…

Political scientists have much to learn through the practice of government. A political scientist discusses his experiences in running for a local school board position. He deals with four subjects: elections, interest groups, bureaucratic politics, and the political community. (RM)

Asserts that majority rule in a democratic society follows a cyclical pattern. Discusses the paradox between the concept of majority rule and protection of the rights of voting minorities. Compares the difficulty of achieving democracy to that of achieving justice through jury trials. (CFR)

Data collected in 1976 by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were analyzed by using a path analysis of clusters of variables combined into single composite variables. Investigated were the relative importance and effect of three clusters of variables (home environment variables, community and school environment variables, and…

Sets forth principles for reforming American education to place greater stress on democratic values. Explains why such reform could reinstate belief in democracy as the worthiest form of government, and one whose survival is far from assured. Argues for the return of history, geography, and the humanities to the center of the curriculum. (KH)

The theory and practice of political science and social studies instruction should be reformulated and reassessed in the light of political socialization studies, particularly with respect to designing curricula and selecting textbooks, planning instructional strategies, and structuring school climates and political systems. (RM)

This article presents a way of looking at decision making that can facilitate students' achievement of citizenship skills that may enable them to be more effective participants during and between elections. (AV)

This monograph contains five papers concerning political education in Canada. Chapter 1, "Political Education and the Teaching of Politics," considers the historical and philosophical connections between education and politics. Chapter 2, "Civics, Citizenship and Politics: Political Education in the Schools," explores…

The impact of social and political events on the development of political attitudes in children is examined. Political learning is seen as an invariant sequence of developmental stages dependent upon physical and intellectual growth, and current events. The data consist of interviews with children at the third through the ninth grade levels. The…

Use of simulation games to develop insights relative to the U.S. political system is discussed. The games involve processes of nomination and election of senators and presidents, campaigning, and legislative decision making. First, selected dimensions of simulation game utilization are reviewed. There is agreement that outcomes of simulation games…

In the wake of Watergate, this paper purports the need for a new approach to teaching about the American presidency. Traditionally, American government textbooks focus on institutional descriptions and constitutional arrangements of the presidency. This textbook approach to the presidency describes and values a chief executive who is generally…