Analyzes factors which have contributed to the poor conditions of large cities: failure of courage to deal with racism; individualism; short-term thinking; political nonaccountability; diversity of peoples and information; loss of faith in leaders and in nation; and threat of nuclear war. Calls for new policy initiatives and outlines an urban…

Civil libertarians and members of more conservative special interest groups have equally legitimate concerns for the educational needs of students attending public schools. The goals and desires of concerned citizens from both sides can be met if neither makes unreasonable demands upon each other. (MD)

Notes that despite current budget restrictions, outdoor education has a bright future because of citizen interest in improving education, an improving economy, and the future of orbiting space cities. Notes that in the future outdoor education will stress proper management of the earth's environment and resources. (SB)

Community service projects that are part of a religious studies program in a Catholic secondary girl's school in Canada are described. The experiential social education projects are intended to foster and nurture responsibility in students and to help them develop participatory skills. (RM)

Faculty attitudes toward social action and community involvement are examined, along with the public expectation of faculty social involvement. Covered are: characteristics of academics, conservative behavior before tenure, peer recognition, the ideology of academic passivity, social status and privilege, the division of labor and power hierarchy,…

This California state curriculum model for grade 9 about Cesar Chavez explains that grade 9 is an elective year for social studies courses and that one of the electives is a course about contemporary California. It suggests that students in schools offering this course could study the role of Chavez in 20th century California and his legacy. A…

This progress report provides evidence for persistent influence of Kids Voting USA (KVUSA), an interactive civic curriculum taught during election campaigns. The entire research project consists of multiple waves of student and parent interviews, covering a three-year period. Respondents were recruited from families in Arizona, Colorado, and…

This book describes the mindshift that is the key to successful community capacity building and to the development of social and economic structures that nurture local sustainability. Its focus is how the development of community, through community capacity building, connects, animates, and informs citizens. Chapter I introduces community building…

This booklet was designed to help service organizations think on a strategic level about forming innovative partnerships and soliciting community resources. Four essential steps are offered to accomplish this goal: design a comprehensive fundraising plan; develop convincing evidence of effectiveness; actively engage potential supporters; and…

This book examines how social studies education can contribute to the development of effective participation in society. The six societal roles emphasized are: lifelong decision-maker, knowledgeable consumer, productive worker, responsible citizen, prudent saver, and global participant. The book contains 17 lessons. The introductory lesson,…

This booklet provides interactive mini-lessons on citizenship to be used by teachers or youth leaders to help young people develop a deeper understanding of citizenship and civic action. The 14 mini-lessons are arranged under 4 categories that describe the elements of active citizenship: knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors. The instructor…

Citizen engagement is important for preserving a prosperous democracy and keeping elected officials accountable to their constituents. New issues affecting rural citizens are causing communities to reframe and ask new planning questions. Two approaches to citizen engagement are asset mapping, in which communities focus on their strengths and…

Decentralization and budget reduction in the public sector, and globalization and downsizing in the private sector have placed more responsibility on localities to address challenges to the health of their economies, ecosystems, and people. Community development theory and practice are also changing, evidenced by changes in vocabulary. Community…

North Americans have been fixated on the personalities of their leaders; they often ignore the need for collective responsibility. Teachers should remember that the assumption made in popular culture about ordinary citizens is that they are passively willing to give up their responsibilities and condone violence and vigilantism. (IS)

Two results of minority pressure for community involvement in educational decision making are (1) administrative decentralization and community participation, and (2) administrative decentralization and community control. However, regarding "community control," controversy abounds over whether elected public officials and professional educators or…