Suggests an alternative to the civic training, political indoctrination, and descriptive presentation approaches used to teaching American government courses. Recommends a political philosophy approach within a framework of elite theory to help students develop a critical perspective on American politics. (DMM)

Community college courses must be updated to match the changing needs of society and the growing ages of the students. They should emphasize active, creative, and practical courses, rather than theory. The author presents teaching suggestions for practical courses in family life, political science, and consumer education. (RT)