Active citizenship
Are attempts made to encourage active citizenship within
the classroom?
Active citizenship acknowledges that in a democratic society all
individuals and groups have the right to engage in the creation and re-creation
of that democratic society; have the right to participate in all of the democratic
practices and institutions within that society; have the responsibility to
ensure that no groups or individuals are excluded from these practices and
institutions; have the responsibility to ensure a broad definition of the
political includes all relationships and structures throughout the social
arrangement.
Active citizenship is present in any classroom in any subject domain
when the teacher elaborates the meaning of such citizenship and facilitates
its practice both within the classroom and outside.
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The citizenship rights of students and teachers are neither discussed
nor practised within the classroom.
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There is some evidence and some talk about the content of, and possible
practices of, active citizenship for teachers and students.
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The practice of active citizenship is obviously prevalent and evident
in practices and in relationships between students and the teacher, and
students and students, and in some instances will involve active participation
in contemporary issues external to the school.
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In a primary school all students were involved in a referendum to determine
if the canteen would sell packets of chips. The process by which the 'yes'
and 'no' cases were articulated and publicised modelled closely the referendum
process observed by the children in the broader community.
Posters outlining the arguments for and against were placed around the school
and lunch time debates were held to ensure that all children were involved
and informed about the issues. After an extended dialogue within the school,
ballot papers were distributed and a secret ballot was organised.
This example is indicative of a productive pedagogy across the school rather
than simply located within one classroom.
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