Phi Delta Kappan
September 2003
The September Phi Delta Kappan, in addition to the annual Gallup survey (this year featuring dubious and controversial NCLB questions), offers a long special section on civic education with a dozen pieces that range from perceptive to bizarre. Best by far are Bill Galston's thoughtful explanation of the link between "civic knowledge" and "civic engagement" and Rod Paige's brief discourse on "civic literacy." Worst are several echoes of George Counts's old demand that educators use schools as vehicles for transforming (rather than explaining, transmitting, and safeguarding) the social order. A few authors even manage to get in digs against standardized testing and NCLB. The confusion and dissension that beset contemporary "civic education" are plain to behold. Unfortunately, the articles aren't available online, but you can get more information about them at http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/ktoc.htm. Regardless, you might be better off checking out Fordham's "Back to Basics" project at http://www.edexcellence.net/template/page.cfm?id=252.
