Observing an aversion to participate in social and political life of citizens of different countries and unwillingness to think about the common good of their own society, the question of the objectives, scope, tasks, sense of civic education comes to my mind. It seems that, in many countries, the proposals in this area proved to be not entirely successful in recent decades.
Civic education is hard need, of course! Dear @Tomasz, here is the example of Serbia: "Alongside increasing pluralism within states, the modern world is witnessing increasing mobility and economic activity between states, accompanied by increased contact and interaction between diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural groups. In a complex world it has become the norm for people to have multiple identities and loyalties. An additional challenge is the emergence of political structures beyond the level of the nation state. One example of this is the emergence of the European Union, which provides the context for the development of citizenship and civic education in post-war Europe...." Civic Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in the Republic of Serbia is fine research paper attached! "This report is an evaluation of the introduction of Civic Education (CE) to the school curriculum in the Republic of Serbia. In November 2001, Civic Education was offered as an optional subject to pupils in the first grade of primary school (7-8 year-olds) and first year of secondary school (14-15 year-olds). Classes operated outside the normal timetable and the syllabi for Civic Education were developed from existing NGO programmes. Teachers of Civic Education were selected from existing staff within schools, and received extensive training through workshops provided by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES)..."
My elder daughter is included as a teacher in process of civic education in Serbia!
http://www.unicef.org/serbia/Civic_Education(1).pdf
I am afraid the lack of civic education might cause that the people will try to pursue their interests outside the existing system. But many thanks for such provocative and interesting question.
I am curious to know why these citizens have no interest in the common good in their own society. Are they struggling to acquire their most basic needs and do not have the time or resources to consider others not in their immediate family/social circle? Beyond meeting basic needs before being able to consider the larger society, I also wonder what age groups you are observing? Is it the society overall, or seen in younger people? It is a very interesting question/observation, as I see the opposite interests in the greater good in many college-age adults in my area.
Dear Christine,
This is a general note - perhaps even a bit too general, because I want to provoke to rethink the category of citizenship, the participation of citizens in social life, civil society and related forms / types / methods [in]effective education.
Thank you for your comment. I look forward to further postings / observations submitted by you (and others)
sincerely yours,
Tomasz
Last year I published, with two colleagues, an article on this issue but more focused on youth. I hope it can be of interest for you. I send you the link:
"The Political Response of Spanish Youth to the Socio-Economic Crisis: Some implications for Citizenship Education"
http://www.jsse.org/index.php/jsse/article/view/1309
Dear Maria, thanks for an information. I'll study your work,
regards :-)
Civic education is still needed because:
1. Common sense is most uncommon ---have to realize and develop common sense
2. Common sense is nothing to do times, it may be modern time
3. To discipline the citizens
4. To up date the changing civic sense and civic code of conduct
5. To build the cultured society and good national character
6. Civic sense reflect the image of the country
7. Etc. ... .
Civic education is very fundamental for society to exist and coexist continually. Civility and ethics and the understanding of a whole in order a part to flourish and grow are cohesive agents of a healthy society.
Any kind of education is not a waste. Civic education is very much needed for modern citizens as it helps them to know more about different rules and regulatory ethical codes in own countries.
Dear Tomasz,
Dear All,
The most efficient way to implement real democracy is to increase the educational level and thinking ability of people. Civic education is a real opportunity for this process. Unfortunately, governments in many countries do not support civic education even formal education is in decline.
Dear Tomasz
I think that civic education is necessary but more necessary in these modern times when the jugglers of words makers (political or otherwise) give us an example in daily life to better believe it
Best regards
FADEL
Of course is still needed, since by accepting the dominant economic model of competitive equilibrium we force people to care about him/her-self and not about the common good, so we have to compensate this loss by some way.
I very much agree with Fadel. Civic education is today needed more than ever, because people are less civil than ever towards each other. We see this in the U.S. in the conduct of the police toward minorities, in the open hostility between the two major parties in the U.S. Congress, and in the disrespect of the populace towards Congress. We need civic education, but I would suggest finding a new name for that old reality lest it seem obsolescent. Perhaps "civic engineering" or "civic science" could serve.
That's a basic education which should be made compulsory for all disciplines.
Development in each area should be supported with civic sense and sustainability.
Civic education is hard need, of course! Dear @Tomasz, here is the example of Serbia: "Alongside increasing pluralism within states, the modern world is witnessing increasing mobility and economic activity between states, accompanied by increased contact and interaction between diverse ethnic, linguistic, religious and cultural groups. In a complex world it has become the norm for people to have multiple identities and loyalties. An additional challenge is the emergence of political structures beyond the level of the nation state. One example of this is the emergence of the European Union, which provides the context for the development of citizenship and civic education in post-war Europe...." Civic Education in Primary and Secondary Schools in the Republic of Serbia is fine research paper attached! "This report is an evaluation of the introduction of Civic Education (CE) to the school curriculum in the Republic of Serbia. In November 2001, Civic Education was offered as an optional subject to pupils in the first grade of primary school (7-8 year-olds) and first year of secondary school (14-15 year-olds). Classes operated outside the normal timetable and the syllabi for Civic Education were developed from existing NGO programmes. Teachers of Civic Education were selected from existing staff within schools, and received extensive training through workshops provided by the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES)..."
My elder daughter is included as a teacher in process of civic education in Serbia!
http://www.unicef.org/serbia/Civic_Education(1).pdf
Yes, civic education is very much needed, if words differ from deeds, they have very little effects.
Civic education is essential to sustain our constitutional democracy.Civic education, therefore, is-or should be-a prime concern.
Dear Tomasz,
Whatever may be development & cultural in the modern world ,how can we neglect civic education .Civic education every where & any place is nothing but the reflection of civic code of society .
This is my personal view
As the Arizona legislative sessions starts off 2015, the state could already be facing a major decision that could help reverse this trend among the state’s youth. Arizona Senate Bill 1029 could be one of the most impactful in 2015 because it would change existing law to require high school seniors to pass a civics test before receiving a diploma. If this bill gets recognition and is eventually passed, it would mean great things for Arizona’s political landscape.
When students are required to study civics and government, they have no choice but to learn how the political process functions and interacts with the economic processes of the country. The passing of this bill would encourage students to form opinions and actively participate in the politics that often dictate the world around them.
Political issues that directly effect the lives of the young people — such as controversies over minimum wage or tax hikes — can become more understandable and clear to those who would otherwise not care about failing a government class because their diploma did not depend on it. The development of opinions on controversial issues in politics leads to informed voting and more active participation from young voters.
http://www.statepress.com/2015/01/12/civic-education-vital-for-school-age-children/
Reading the attachment - blog from previous answers, I have found very good resource about the issue of civic education : THE NEED FOR CIVIC EDUCATION! "...While the United States education system places emphasis on students reaching a certain level of proficiency in many subject areas, civic education or government is not one of them. In addition to students having knowledge about geometry and prepositional phrases, it is equally important for individuals to know about the government and how it operates, otherwise referred to as civic education or civic engagement...."
http://www.thecornellian.com/2013/03/the-need-for-civic-education/
Civic education is very fundamental for healthy society to continue and coexist continually.
Further, it is necessary to develop civility, morality, and strong ethics among people.
I believe that civic education will always be important. Love for the flag and the anthem, for its natural resources, its culture and history, what we here call "boosterism". (ufanismo)
The role of civic boosterism (good term introduced by dear @Vanessa) is discussed in the following research paper Civic boosterism in the politics of local economic development — 'institutional positions' and 'strategic orientations' in the consumption of hallmark events! " The author sets out to interrogate the manner in which cultural festivals have been theorised in the context of accounts of the role of civic boosterism — or what he terms 'Urban Propaganda Projects' (UPPs) — in the politics of local economic development. Attention is focused primarily upon how authors account for the way in which 'locals' respond to boosterism..." You have fine festival in RIO dear @Vanessa! :)
http://www.envplan.com/abstract.cgi?id=a291975
Civic education is the education of a free society in self government. Democratic self government means that citizens are actively involved in their own governance; they do not just passively accept the dictums of others or acquiesce to the demands of others. In other words, the ideals of democracy are most completely realized when every member of the political community shares in its governance. Members of the political community are its citizens, hence citizenship in a democracy is membership in the body politic. Membership implies participation, but not participation for participation's sake. Citizen participation in a democratic society must be based on informed, critical reflection, and on the understanding and acceptance of the rights and responsibilities that go with that membership.
Civic education in a democratic or free society most assuredly needs to be concerned with promoting understanding of the ideals of democracy and a reasoned commitment to the values and principles of democracy. That does not mean, however, that democracy should be presented as utopia. Democracy is not utopian, and citizens need to understand that lest they become cynical, apathetic, or simply withdraw from political life when their unrealistic expectations are not met. To be effective civic education must be realistic; it must address the central truths about political life. The American Political Science Association (APSA) recently formed a Task Force on Civic Education.
A message of importance, therefore, is that politics need not, indeed must not, be a zero-sum game. The idea that "winner takes all" has no place in a democracy, because if losers lose all they will opt out of the democratic game. Sharing is essential in a democratic society-the sharing of power, of resources, and of responsibilities. In a democratic society the possibility of effecting social change is ever present, if citizens have the knowledge, the skills and the will to bring it about. That knowledge, those skills and the will or necessary traits of private and public character are the products of a good civic education.
For this reason, civic education should be one of the most important program at all level of the school system.
Civic education and responsibility are essential in any times.
However, they need to be "breathed", more than taught. Having a "good example" is the best way to learn it.
Through civic education, we can develop the responsible citizens for future.
Relevant information about civic education may be found here at CEP! "The Civic Education Project® (CEP), an international non-profit organization, has supported grassroots efforts to promote pluralism and international standards in social science education in transitioning countries since 1991." Many resources are available.
http://civiceducationproject.org/
May be it would be interesting for you: https://www.academia.edu/s/e8fd61d929
Advancing Human Rights in Post-Authoritarian Communities through Education.
BENJAMIN GREGG*. Journal of Human Rights Practice Advance Access published May 12, 2015
Todays modern people are less responsible for civic discipline, requires civic education, rather it should go on to future generations.
In a civic context we can remind ourselves of how vital the tasks are that we engage in
http://www.ccmountainwest.org/sites/default/files/barber_in_college_and_character.pdf
Civics education bill needed for government engagement, supporters say - Opponents say requirement an unfunded mandate! With some variations across the state and nation, students from wealthier families and school districts tend to receive a better civics education.There is a huge gap in the quality of that education across race, ethnicity and social classes...
http://www.theherald-news.com/2015/06/05/civics-education-bill-needed-for-government-engagement-supporters-say/a26tm7a/
I think civil education is always going to be a need. Humans should be educated as members of a society. Civic behavior is not like a unconditioned reflex , so it should be trainned and taught since childhood.
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