Citizenship and Democracy Education in the Curriculum

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Citizenship and Democracy Education in the
Curriculum

• Viola Horská
  horska_at_vuppraha.cz

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Democratic Citizenship Preliminary Definition
(1)

• Democracy is nothing that can be taken for
  granted
• Democracy is nothing that can be inherited
• Democracy is not an abstract concept without any
  reference to everyday life
• Democracy is nothing that is self-repro-ductive
  

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Democratic Citizenship Preliminary Definition
(2)

• Democracy should be performed, created,
  reproduced, learned and lived on everyday basis,
  in our everyday lives
• Citizens should be prepared for exertion of
  democracy, exercising of democratic principles
  and using of democratic rights
• Acquisition of democratic competence is based not
  only on mere knowledge, but above all on skills
  and attitudes

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Education for Democratic Citizenship (1)

• It goes far beyond the education in school is a
  part of lifelong learning
• It constitutes a framework for citizens
  preparation for active participation in the
  everyday life of democratic society
• It is carried out in different environments and
  underpins different social groups
• It is based on values and attitudes

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Education for Democratic Citizenship (2)

• It is acquired especially by means of direct
  experience with democratic procedures and
  practices in everyday life
• Democratic culture of state authorities and their
  models of conduct are essential
• Existence of opportunities for active
  citi-zenship and real democratic participation
  are crucial

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Conditions for sustainability of EDC in the
national context

• EDC have to be seen as a priority
• EDC have to be supported by a coherent and
  comprehensive strategy at both the national and
  local level
• EDC have to involve all necessary sectors and
  different actors in the field
• EDC have to be explicitly included in the
  national curriculum

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EDC in the Curriculum (1)

• EDC as an umbrella concept of the whole school
  curriculum
• EDC as a separate subject
• EDC as a cross-curricular theme
• EDC integrated in others subjects
• The democratic environment in school, the whole
  educational process

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EDC in the Curriculum (2)

• Civic competences in the curriculum
• Citizenship and Democratic Education (EDC) as a
  separate domain (subject) in the curriculum
• Cross-curricular themes related to EDC in the
  curriculum
• Participative teaching methods used by all
  teachers in the school

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EDC in the Curriculum (3)

• Promote democratic learning environment,
  introduce new forms of participation
• Support interactive, participative and
  constructive teaching/learning methods
• Create opportunities for pupils to actively
  participate in school decision-making and exert
  their democratic rights in schools

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EDC Evaluation (1)

• Pupil/student conferences, exhibitions
• Pupil/student project presentations
• Presentations of the School parliament activities
• Pupil/student commitment in school/ community
  activities
• Pupil/student active involvement in the school
  decision-making etc.

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EDC Evaluation (2)

• School level indicators- democratic atmosphere
  in school- open partnership and cooperation-
  school as a citizenship laboratory- access to
  information for all
• Pupil level indicators- active participation in
  school/community life - active involvement in
  projects - beneficial work for the community