Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No.

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STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 10

CIVIC IDEALS AND PRACTICES

An understanding of civic ideals and practices is critical to full participation in society and is an
essential component of education for citizenship, which is the central purpose of social studies. All
people have a stake in examining civic ideals and practices across time and in different societies. Through an
understanding of both ideals and practices, it becomes possible to identify gaps between them, and study
efforts to close the gaps in our democratic republic and worldwide.
Learning how to apply civic ideals as part of citizen action is essential to the exercise of
democratic freedoms and the pursuit of the common good. Through social studies programs, students
acquire a historical and contemporary understanding of the basic freedoms and rights of citizens in a
democracy, and learn about the institutions and practices that support and protect these freedoms and rights,
as well as the important historical documents that articulate them. Students also need to become familiar with
civic ideals and practices in countries other than our democratic republic.
Questions faced by students studying this theme might be: What are the democratic ideals and
practices of a constitutional democracy? What is the balance between rights and responsibilities? What is
civic participation? How do citizens become involved? What is the role of the citizen in the community and the
nation, and as a member of the world community? Students will explore how individuals and institutions
interact. They will also recognize and respect different points of view. Students learn by experience how to
participate in community service and political activities and how to use democratic processes to influence
public policy.
In schools, this theme typically appears in units or courses dealing with civics, history, political
science, cultural anthropology, and fields such as global studies and law-related education, while also
drawing upon content from the humanities. In the early grades, students are introduced to civic ideals and
practices through activities such as helping to set classroom expectations, examining experiences in relation
to ideals, participating in mock elections, and determining how to balance the needs of individuals and the
group. During these years, children also experience views of citizenship in other times and places through
stories and drama. By the middle grades, students expand their knowledge of democratic ideals and
practices, along with their ability to analyze and evaluate the relationships between these ideals and
practices. They are able to see themselves taking civic roles in their communities. High school students
increasingly recognize the rights and responsibilities of citizens in identifying societal needs, setting directions
for public policies, and working to support both individual dignity and the common good. They become familiar
with methods of analyzing important public issues and evaluating different recommendations for dealing with
these issues.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this module, you should have:

LEARNING CONTENTS

Citizenship education gives people the knowledge and skills to understand, challenge and engage
with democratic society including politics, the media, civil society, the economy and the law.

Democracies need active, informed and responsible citizens - citizens who are willing and able to take
responsibility for themselves and their communities and contribute to the political process.

MS. LEI XANDRA MEI B. BALMACEDA TEACHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 1

How does it Benefit Young People?

It helps them to develop self-confidence and a sense of agency, and successfully deal with life changes
and challenges such as bullying and discrimination.

It gives them a voice: in the life of their schools, their communities and society at large.

It enables them to make a positive contribution by developing the knowledge and experience needed to
claim their rights and understand their responsibilities. It prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of
adult and working life.

Who Else Does it Benefit?

Citizenship also brings benefits for schools, other educational organizations and for society at large.

For schools and other educational organizations, it helps to produce motivated and responsible learners,
who relate positively to each other, to staff and to the surrounding community. For society it helps to create
an active and responsible citizenry, willing to participate in the life of the nation and the wider world and play
its part in the democratic process.

One of the first steps on the civic journey is the education system. Education should help young people
become active citizens once they understand their role within society and how they can go about improving
it.
The Ties that Bind – House of Lords Report on Citizenship, 2018

Society belongs to all of us. What we put into it creates what we get out of it.
At Young Citizens, we believe society is best when we all join in. That is, when we all bring our energy and
judgment to it. This helps make it fairer and more inclusive. It supports a democracy in which people
participate and belong. We have countless examples of how even the youngest can make a difference.

But it means we all need enough knowledge, skills and confidence to take part effectively.

We want everyone to feel they belong. And we want everyone to feel they can drive change.

The European Commission supports the following definition of active citizenship:

'Participation in civil society, community and/or political life, characterized by mutual respect and non-violence
and in accordance with human rights and democracy'
(Hoskins, 2006)
Tips for Teaching Citizenship

Showing students how to be empathetic and tolerant is an important part of teaching citizenship.

Another way to teach citizenship — while also helping students realize its importance — is to give
students a voice. Ask them what things could be better in their lives if they pursued that issue and tried to
make a change.

Then, have students take action towards embodying that change. For example, you might have students
host a betterment campaign, deliver speeches, collect can openers for the homeless or raise money for the
cause. These are all small, but tangible ways that students can learn how to make a difference in their society.
You might also host a mock election to show students how they can put their opinion to work by voting and
influencing positive change in society.

Teachers play a role in fostering good citizenship on a daily basis. Teachers can model democratic
dialogue by asking students to respectfully question adults and speak their opinion. If a student questions you
or another student in the classroom, you can use this as an example for the entire classroom to talk about
how the students can engage in varying viewpoints while remaining empathetic.
MS. LEI XANDRA MEI B. BALMACEDA TEACHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 2
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 Study Guide in ECED 107 Social Studies in Early Childhood Education Module No. 10

SUMMARY

Civic ideals and practices prepares learners for full participation in society, which is the central purpose of
social studies. Students acquire an understanding of the basic freedom and rights of citizens and a
democracy, and learn about the practices that support and protect these freedoms and rights. Learners
confront such questions as: What is civic participation and how can I be involved? How has the meaning of
citizenship evolved? What is the balance between rights and responsibilities? What is the role of the citizen in
the community, in the nation, and in the world community? How can I make a positive difference?

REFERENCES

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MS. LEI XANDRA MEI B. BALMACEDA TEACHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 3