Saturday, April 16, 2005

A civilising subject

Just thinking...

Telegraph | Education | A civilising subject for teenagers

In reading around "Citizenship" (I don't particularly like the naming of this as a "subject") I have found lots of very positive examples of its value within the curriculum. This article from the Telegraph its just one of many and typifies how interested children are in finding answers to the questions they have about the world around them. It is also interesting to have a "true-blue Tory" writing so effusively about a liberal approach to education!

I believe that the Citizenship approach - I cannot, after studying Education for Sustainability for my Masters, bring myself to call Citizenship a subject, its more than that - when applied to schools, provides a great challenge for school leaders. However it is a challenge that, addressed in the right way, can only be a force for good.

Take this article for example:

It juxtaposes two concepts common in schools that are "doing" Citizenship: healthy eating and the condition of our fellow humans in other parts of the world. It is a wake-up call to read Tergat's article, particularly in light of the material well-being within our sector of education. And it reinforces just what a responsibility, I feel, school leaders have to ensure that their communities are aware of their rights and responsibilities. An effective programme of Citizenship Education across the curriculum and community would encourage pupils, staff and parents to make decisions in their lives based on an elightened and thoughtful regard for themselves and others.

As Tergat says:
"Over 100 million children do not attend school and 300 million are chronically hungry. With a collective commitment to school feeding, the international community could help to reduce these numbers quickly. Doesn't every child deserve the chance to achieve his or her dreams?"

I believe our children deserve the same opportunity to achieve their dreams. However we also have the responsibility to educate them to be aware of what they can do to be active and effective participants in their world as they grow up. It is, therefore, a school management issue. How are we to educate for future responsibility? My Year 6 classes or my 1W RE form are not simply the 6- or 11-year-olds in front of me now. They are the voting 20-somethings or parents with purchasing power in 10 or 20 years time. So these future-adults must be able to participate in an environment which instills core values of kindness, care, humility and self-confidence. Surely school management issues and not merely to be stuffed away as a subject within the curriculum?

As I said...just thinking! I wake up too early on Saturday mornings!

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