Active Citizenship Harnessing the Potential: Why, what and how
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Transcript of Active Citizenship Harnessing the Potential: Why, what and how
Active Citizenship Harnessing the
Potential: Why, what and how
October 2015
eTwinning Annual Conference 2015
Brussels
David Kerr CF Director of Education
Senior Teaching FellowUniversity of Bristol
Visiting Professor of CitizenshipBirkbeck CollegeUniversity of [email protected]
Aims of this presentation…To answer some key questions:
1.What is active citizenship – aims and goals?
2.Why active citizenship now?
3.How is active citizenship approached – contexts and methodology?
4.How well - what are the benefits and challenges of effective active citizenship?
What is active citizenship – aims and
goals?
Definition of Active/Participatory 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’. Definition broadly blends the practices of different models of citizenship across EuropeAll actions must be underpinned by the values of human rights and democracy
Purpose and Definition?Education for Democratic Citizenship means education, training, awareness-raising, information, practices and activities which aim, by equipping learners with knowledge, skills and understanding and developing their attitudes and behaviour to empower them to exercise and defend their democratic rights and responsibilities in society, to value diversity and to play an active part in democratic life, with a view to the promotion and protection of democracy and the rule of law. (CoE Charter on EDC and HRE (2010))
Why active citizenship now?
‘..the new challenge of how to prepare young people for democracy in contexts that are quite different from those that have been known in the past.’
Kerry Kennedy
Climate Change/Global Warming
Migration of Peoples
Democracy in Europe
Combatting violence and extremism
Global Capitalism and Jobs
Student Voice
New and Unknown Challenges
Global Responses
Global Competence PISA 2018
• Increasing globalization• Interconnectedness• Multimodal forms of communication• Multicultural and multinational learning
and work environments• Need to prepare learners for our 21st
century, global community
Educating and engaging citizens
All over the developed world ‘democratic deficit’ Less engagement with formal politics and political processes Voting no longer seen as a ‘civic duty’ by younger generations Declining trust in politicians and decision makers
Increasing gap between generations Voting highest among over 65s Increased use of social media by younger generations Increased involvement in ‘one off’ protests/boycotts
Debate as to whether an issue of ‘age’ or a significant and permanent ‘generational shift’
Pessimists Democracies are severely threatened and
weakened
Young people’s avoidance of traditional political activity constitutes a problem: Fewer and fewer will represent them Fewer and fewer want to be represented by
anyone
Optimists No crisis, just changed modes of engagement
Interest and citizen engagement are stable
Political consumption, internet and ad hoc-actions widen the participatory repertoireEven if they don’t compensate for the youth
absence in political parties and youth branchesYoung people create new venues for political
involvement and help democracies to survive
How is active citizenship best
approached – contexts and methodology?
Three contexts (Cs) for active citizenship
Why schools and classrooms matter
• Schools and classrooms can be a key source of learning for young people in developing civic competences
• Schools give young people their first experience of public life
• Schools and classrooms are a common denominator in young people’s lives
• Schools can be a source of learning for adults as well as young people
School community Opportunities for young people to:
• Develop social and personal relationships
• Express their views and opinions
• Take part in decision-making
• Become involved in positions and roles that have responsibilities
Often termed ‘Democratic school culture’
Wider communities
• Bringing the community and civil society INTO the school
• Taking the school OUT INTO the community and civil society
Wider communities – local to global – power of ICT and social media
What to address in the DCHRE ‘Contexts’
Competence Based
Civic Competence
Dispositions/Behaviours
Affective(Doing/Active)
Cognitive(Knowing)
Knowledge Skills Attitudes Values
How well - Who benefits from active citizenship and how?
What are the challenges?
Benefits of active citizenship for Schools and Communities • Improves discipline
• Enhances learning and teamwork• Reduces violence, conflict and
discrimination• Provides a nicer working environment
for everybody in the school• Improves exam performance• Secures the future existence of
sustainable democracies
Impact - Civic KnowledgeHaving a high civic knowledge score is a strong predictor of positive pupil outcomes to: -voting in future elections-support for democratic values-gender equality-equal rights for ethnic minority and immigrant groups-interest in social and political issues
Benefits and impact of CE • School leaders and teachers increasingly
recognising benefits of introducing CE - at school level - at student level - at community level
• Also aware of impact of CE IN and BEYOND school
Areas CE is having an impact
What are the challenges for active
citizenship?
Trial and Error!
Support and Training
Did you spot him?
Can you spot him again?
Framework for ActionCouncil of Europe Charter on
Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education – adopted by the Commıttee of Mınısters on 11 May 2010
Policy Tool - Strategic Support for Decision Makers
Competences Framework for DCHRE and intercultural dialogue
“Democracy Generation”EDC/HRE Joint Project in Turkey
Celebrate
School Support
Generation Democracyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwMiPwyTZCc
Five findings to share with you1. How political interest develops over time2. When parents mean most3. How Internet use affects citizen norms and
actions4. Citizen participation as a two-dimensional
concept5. Why political interest not always or
everywhere translates into political participation
1. How interest develops over time
Mean levels of Discussion with parents
Diverse impact of media use
Traditional news media use primarily contributes to the development of Dutiful Citizen qualities – such as political knowledge and political trust
Creative online media use promotes Actualizing Citizen qualities – such as cause-oriented online and offline activism as well as internal efficacy
Passive or active?
(Amnå and Ekman, 2014)
Standby citizens
Citizens who are disposed to act, knowledgeable, efficacious, competent
They have positive feelings for politics They have made plans for themselves including a
future political engagement In every aspect, they are closer to the active ones than
to the unengaged and the disillusioned If they move, the move significantly to the active
group – and not to any of the other groups At the individual level, the reasons for stepping in
seem to be a decreased satisfaction with democracy
(Amnå and Ekman, 2014)
Percentage of Standby citizens in full and flawed European democracies
Benefits for All!https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oUvytXqcz0I
Layered contexts (Cs) for citizen engagement and active
citizenship
What kind of education system do we need?
What kind of society do we want?Chilean writer
Thank yougood luck and enjoy!!
Citizenship FoundationFirst Floor, 50 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RTtel: +44 (0) 20 7566 4141 fax: +44 (0) 20 7566 4131www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk