Nurturing Civic Lives: Developmental Perspectives on Civic Education - Introduction

In: PS: political science & politics, Band 36, Heft 2, S. 253-255

Abstract

An introduction notes that a teacher symposium, "Nurturing Civic Lives: Developmental Perspectives on Civic Education," is a byproduct of an American Political Science Assoc Task Force on Civic Education project to forge working linkages among political scientists & developmental psychologists for the purpose of enhancing the quality & effectiveness of civic education. The history of civic education in America is traced from its roots in a "traditionalist" educational philosophy, through the rise of a developmentalist philosophy of progressivist education that rejected civic education, & finally to the emergence of a civic development perspective that is a response to both a renewed traditionalist movement in education & a growing awareness of the poor state of current civic life. The impact of Lawrence Kohlberg's (1968) moral development approach is discussed, along with the value of cross-disciplinary perspectives, & the growing volume of research on youth civic development. A brief synopsis of each contribution is included. 25 References. J. Lindroth