Effective Practices in Citizenship Education; We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution
Westbrook, Gennie Burleson
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We the Peopleâ ¦The Citizen and the Constitution is a course of study that enhances the civic knowledge, skills, and dispositions that lead to responsible citizenship. The curriculum, published by the Center for Civic Education, is intended for students in grades 5, 8, and high school. Students prepare for a mock congressional hearing in which they testify in response to questions about the philosophy and application of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. This project includes a history of civic education, a matrix showing a comparison of civic participation theories, and an examination of certain practices in 102 high school classes that participate in the Centerâ s nation-wide competition, as well as comments from teachers who use the curriculum in other contexts. I compare classes that usually win their stateâ s competition and go on to the national meet, or â Championship programsâ to competitive classes that are historically less successful. Results of my comparison indicate that there are few important differences between the more successful groups and the less successful groups, and that those differences primarily center on the experience and academic strengths of the teacher. My interpretation of this outcome is that there is little to prevent any teacher from improving his/her skills to more effectively teach citizenship in this outstanding program.
- Masters Theses