Beyond personally responsible: A study of teacher conceptualizations of citizenship education

Abstract

This mixed methods study explores secondary teacher conceptualizations of citizenship education in one Midwestern state in the USA. First, the authors situate the study within the teacher belief and citizenship education literature. They then analyze statewide survey responses and interview transcripts that describe teacher beliefs and classroom goals and the degree to which teachers believe these goals are met. The authors advance the typology of personally responsible, participatory and justice-oriented citizenship aims by thickly describing the profiles of teachers within these paradigms. Finally, the authors address the implications of this typology for problematizing citizenship education within preservice and in-service professional development.

Cultivating a Justice Orientation Toward Citizenship in Preservice Elementary Teachers

“…Both elementary and secondary students in Martin's (2008) study felt that helping others was integral to good citizenship and that their future "good" citizenship endeavors would include teaching and helping others in need. Faden (2012) and Patterson, Doppen, and Misco (2012) offered insights into practicing teachers' beliefs about "good" citizens. Faden interviewed 13 inservice teachers from the United States and Canada regarding their beliefs about citizenship and national identity.…”

Toward Self-Authoring a Civic Teacher Identity: Service-Learning in Teacher Education

“…Previous studies indicate that there is a significant and often long-term impact of service-learning on civic responsibility and participation (Birdwell, Scott, & Horley, 2013;Patterson, Doppen, & Misco, 2012). A case in point is a recent report on City Year, a long-running program in the United States that places college-age youth in a 10-month community service-learning program designed to promote leadership development and civic engagement (Anderson & Fabiano, 2007).…”

Citizenship education: social science teachers' views in three European countries

“…Th ey see the diversity of views as 'dual goals', where understanding of social and political 13 Th e three types were confi rmed in a later study by (Patterson et al, 2012).…”

“…Admittedly, there have been a few studies specifi cally aimed at teachers' views on citizenship education. (AlviarMartin, Randall, Usher, & Engelhard Jr, 2008;Araújo, 2008;Arthur et al, 2008;Evans, 2006;Patterson, Doppen, & Misco, 2012;Ross, Fülöp, & Kuscer, 2007). An exception is a comparative study by (Lee & Fouts, 2005), but it is not directed to European countries.…”

“…Some studies zoom into teachers' views on citizenship and reveal a complex pattern with multiple sources of infl uence and describe the fi ndings as 'ambiguous' and 'eclectic.' (Evans, 2006;Patterson et al, 2012).…”