NCJ Number
161989
Journal
Youth Studies Australia Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1996) Pages: 13-31
Date Published
1996
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Five articles focus on the cultivation of responsible citizenship in schools and among students in Australia.
Abstract
The first article describes the background for the recent regeneration of interest in citizenship education in Australia and reports on the authors' research into Western Australian students' perceptions of political awareness and the characteristics of a "good citizen." The second article discusses some of the contradictions that derive from the nature of citizenship and its active variant and also discusses the peculiar language of citizenship. The dilemmas of citizenship discussed are when a young person becomes a citizen, whether the teaching of civics has much to do with the role of schools in the learning of civic competence, and whether active citizenship can be learned passively. The third article questions the current focus on curriculum as a means of learning about citizenship and suggests that students should actively participate in "defining the culture and organization of the institution of schooling." In the fourth article, the author, who has been involved in student participation for many years, reviews the concept of student participation. The fifth article is based in the view that part of the challenge of the development of civics and citizenship education is to work toward rectifying the historical under- representation of women in public life. This article and accompanying case study show that gains are being made through programs such as the New South Wales Schools in Parliament program and through the initiatives of individual schools, such as action-oriented St. Rita's in Brisbane. Article references