Education affects these two dimensions in distinct ways, influencing democratic enlightenment through cognitive proficiency and sophistication, and political engagement through position in social networks. For characteristics of enlightenment, formal education simply adds to the degree to which citizens support and are knowledgeable about democratic principles.

In recent years a number of political and educational leaders and groups have urged the nation's public schools to place a greater emphasis on teaching civic values and on educating students to become citizens. This book puts forth the civic values and ideas that schools should be teaching. The volume is not a handbook or curriculum guide, but is designed to broaden the perspective of curriculum specialists, textbook authors, teachers, and educational policymakers. In the first three chapters of this four-chapter book, the study of and learning about history, the study and learning about constitutional principles, and the study and learning about conceptions of citizenship are examined. The final chapter offers a set of 12 ideas and civic values that should suffuse teaching and learning in the schools. These 12 values are justice, equality, authority, participation, truth, patriotism, freedom, diversity, privacy, due process, property, and human rights. (DB)

The Wiley Handbook of Social Studies Research is a wide-ranging resource on the current state of social studies education. This timely work not only reflects on the many recent developments in the field, but also explores emerging trends. This is the first major reference work on social studies education and research in a decade An in-depth look at the current state of social studies education and emerging trends Three sections cover: foundations of social studies research, theoretical and methodological frameworks guiding social studies research, and current trends and research related to teaching and learning social studies A state-of-the-art guide for both graduate students and established researchers Guided by an advisory board of well-respected scholars in social studies education research

The distinguishing characteristics, content and processes, and the variations of essential elements that are exemplified by projects in the United States and abroad in education for democratic citizenship are presented in this book. The volume addresses how international partnerships involving the United States and several post-communist countries advanced the cause of education for democracy. Chapter titles include: (1) "Concepts at the Core of Education for Democratic Citizenship" (John J. Patrick); (2) "Education for Constructive Engagement of Citizens in Democratic Civil Society and Government" (John J. Patrick); (3) "A Cooperative International Project to Develop and Disseminate a Framework on Education for Democratic Citizenship: Introduction and Rationale" (Charles F. Bahmueller); (4) "A Framework on Education for Democratic Citizenship: Summary and Commentary" (Charles F. Bahmueller); (5) "Civil Society and Democracy Reconsidered" (Charles F. Bahmueller); (6) "Civitas: An International Civic Education Exchange Program" (Charles N. Quigley; Jack N. Hoar); (7) "Reconsidering Issue-Centered Civic Education Among Early Adolescents: Project Citizen in the United States and Abroad" (Thomas S. Vontz; William A. Nixon); (8) "Guiding Principles for Cross-Cultural Curriculum Projects in Citizenship Education Reform" (Gregory E. Hamot); (9) "Building Democracy for the Twenty-First Century: Rediscovering Civics and Citizenship Education in Australia" (Murray Print); (10) "The Uses of Literature in Education for Democratic Citizenship: Lessons and Suggestions from the American Experience" (Sandra Stotsky); and (11) "Resources in ERIC on Education for Democratic Citizenship: International Perspectives." (Elizabeth R. Osborn). (LB)

Public school systems are central to a flourishing democracy, where children learn how to solve problems together, build shared identities, and come to value justice and liberty for all. However, as citizen support for public schools steadily declines, our democratic way of life is increasingly at risk. Often, we hear about the poor performances of students and teachers in the public school system, but as author Sarah M. Stitzlein asserts in her compelling new volume, the current educational crisis is not about accountability, but rather citizen responsibility. Now, more than ever, citizens increasingly do not feel as though public schools are our schools, forgetting that we have influence over their outcomes and are responsible for their success. In effect, accountability becomes more and more about finding failure and casting blame on our school administrators and teachers, rather than taking responsibility as citizens for shaping our expectations of the classroom, determining the criteria we use to measure its success, and supporting our public schools as they nurture our children for the future. American Public Education and the Responsibility of its Citizens sheds an important light on recent shifts in the link between education and citizenship, helping readers to understand not only how schools now work, but also how citizens can take an active and influential role in shaping them. Moving from philosophical critique of these changes to practical suggestions for action, Stitzlein provides readers with the tools, habits, practices, and knowledge necessary to support public education. Further, by sharing examples of citizens and successful communities that are effectively working with their school systems, Stitzlein offers a torch of hope to sustain citizens through this difficult work in order to keep our democracy strong.

"What kind of citizen is no ordinary education book. By drawing on accessible and engaging discussions around the goals of schooling, it is imminently readable by a broad public. Neither fluff nor polemic, the theory and practice described in the book are based in solid empirical research and come out of the most influential frameworks for citizenship and democratic education of the last several decades (the "Three Kinds of Citizens" framework that emerged from collaboration between the author and Dr. Joseph Kahne as well as consultations with thousands of school teachers and civic leaders.) - This framework has been used in 67 countries to help teachers and school reformers think about how to structure educational programs and how schools can strengthen democratic societies. - This book pulls together a decade of research on schools into one place giving the reader a comprehensive look at why schools should be at the forefront of public engagement and how we can make that happen"--