This paper argues that the fundamental purpose of public education is preparation for citizenship and democratic participation through the inculcation of American democratic values. These values are codified by the Constitution and are further illuminated by the nation's courts and other public institutions. The paper calls for a recommitment to…

Like most Americans, young people today yearn to play more active roles in community life. According to a recent study, there are two roadblocks to effective citizen empowerment: lack of knowledge and training that could help people connect with each other, and a dimmed belief that individuals can make a difference. In an effort to address these…

The concept of community is receiving much press but little theoretical classification. Sociological theory can provide a deeper theoretical understanding of the concept of community and the role of schools in community, by addressing the underlying factors that alienate schools from communities. This paper uses the classic…

A discussion of literature in critical thinking and education for democracy promotes critical thinking as one of the most reasonable educational tools to prepare students for participation in a democracy. The theories of Amy Gutmann, Jurgen Habermas, and Matthew Lipman offer insights into the various approaches to critical thinking and education…

This social studies curriculum guide for grade 2 in the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, Indiana, contains 10 sections: (1) School board policy and philosophy; (2) Philosophy implementation guidelines; (3) Program level objectives; (4) Responsibility for social studies curriculum; (5) Multicultural/multiethnic graphic; (6) General…

This paper discusses the current status of civic education in the United States and the place of civic education in the current movement to establish national goals and standards for education. Most current reform efforts (e.g., America 2000) approach civic education by means of increasing the role of history and geography in the curriculum.…

This paper discusses two types of adjustments that foreign students face when they encounter university culture in the United States. The central section lists and describes four key groups of underlying principles, values, and practices in American education and discusses the reasons why these may be difficult for foreign students to understand.…

A critical and comparative study of recent changes in the New Zealand educational system is provided in this book. These changes have been largely inspired by the New Right, yet they have been introduced by a Labor government with an apparent commitment to equality of opportunity. For Western societies impacted by New Right policies the New…

Developed for elementary students, this compilation of diverse lesson plans, project ideas, and resources is designed to assist teachers in teaching about the United States Constitution. The document includes 10 sections: (1) A Model Bicentennial Program for Elementary Schools; (2) Patriotism Packet of Lesson Plans; (3) A Young Citizen's Guide to…

"The Federalist Papers," a collection of 85 essays on the principles of republican government written to support the ratification of the Constitution of 1787, has been praised as an outstanding work by individuals ranging from such founding fathers as Thomas Jefferson and George Washington to contemporary scholars in history and…

State education reform efforts, like national proposals for educational excellence, have blamed poor schooling for widening the gulf between poor and rich and influencing economic and industrial decline. Improved schools will supposedly restore economic health to society and its individual citizens. This conflation of educational reform and…

The new pluralism in a democratic society requires that cultural differences be regarded as differences rather than deficits; however, this view of cultural pluralism does not mean that the notion of cultural differences should be carried to such an extreme as to become separatist in orientation. Cultural differences represent various societies'…

The values that are the foundations of the democratic system should be defined, taught, learned, and then put into action in the classroom. The issues associated with teaching values are so complex and controversial that many schools avoid dealing with them. These issues include: (1) teaching about religion; (2) teaching about citizenship and…

It is the role of schools and colleges to teach certain truths that can enhance the quality of one's life in society. Yet often these truths are not learned at school because many students do not accept them as truths, because they are not actually included in the curriculum, or because they are mistaught. These truths revolve around eight…

School administrators are challenged to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse school population, including minority, poor, and disabled students. Democratic schooling holds the most promise for student diversity, but its premises are limited for students with intellectual disabilities. The special education profession has disseminated…