Theorizing Citizenship and Evaluating Public Achievement

Abstract

Researcher (R): How has doing Public Achievement (PA) changed the way you think about yourself?Casey (pseudonym for an elementary school student): I am less lonely now that I have done Public Achievement.R: Really, that's interesting, what is it in PA makes you less lonely?Casey: Well, people used to think that I am kinda weird here, and I am different. I like playing in the woods and stuff by myself and doing my own kind of stuff.R: And people think of you as less weird when you do PA?Casey: Yeah, they even give awards to kids like me in PA.R: Wow! It sounds like you are a leader in PA.Casey: Yeah, I really like doing PA.R: Let me see if I am hearing you right, before PA people thought that you were weird, and now that you have done PA, people look at you differently?Casey: Yeah.R: How do you think they look at you differently now?Casey: They look at me as a citizen.R: As a citizen, what does it mean for them to look at you as a citizen?Casey: Like I am more of an equal, they listen to what I have to say.This dialogue, filled with civic promise, is typical of the many conversations I have had with young participants in reflecting upon their experiences in Public Achievement.

Classroom teacher leadership: service-learning for teacher sense of efficacy and servant leadership development

“…First, an increase in altruistic calling and emotional healing is not very surprising and echoes previous research showing that service-learning participation has led to an increase in civic engagement knowledge and awareness of societal issues (Melchior and Bailis 2002), respectful attitudes and caring towards diverse groups (Hoover and Webster 2004;Terry and Bohnenberger 2003;Yates and Youniss 1996), civic engagement and political efficacy (Billig 2000;Billig, Root, and Jesse 2005;Hildreth 2000), sense of civic efficacy (Kahne and Westheimer 2006;Morgan and Streb 2001) and longitudinal civic participation (Youniss, McLellan, and Yates 1997). …”

Engaging youth in community change: three key implementation principles

“…Seeking to capitalize on this promise, youth civic engagement has been a research focus of scholars in the areas of adolescent development and democratic participation. Characteristics associated with successful youth civic engagement include viewing youth as assets and resources (Benson, 1997;Ferman, 2005;Lerner & Benson, 2003;Varney, 2007;Watts & Flanagan, 2007;Wheeler & Edlebeck, 2006); fostering youth ownership of the process while providing adequate capacity-building opportunities and adult support (Camino & Zeldin, 2002;Carlson, 2006;Perri, 2007;Varney, 2007;Wheeler & Edlebeck, 2006); inviting youth to participate in public work with real consequences (Boyte, 2004;Flanagan & Levine, 2010;Hildreth, 2000;Nagda, McCoy, & Barrett, 2006); and involving a broad range of youth socializing institutions, organizations, and systems (Benson, 1997). Researchers have also documented a variety of specific vehicles for engaging youth in the community, including community service, youth-produced media, youth philanthropy, action research and evaluation, political activities, community organizing, and youth in governance (Gray & Hayes, 2008;Libby, Sedonaen, & Bliss, 2006;London et al, 2003).…”

“…Many of the practical suggestions scattered throughout the literature emphasize youth development approaches. One approach emphasizes establishing a group where youth can explore new identities and rotate through various roles (Hildreth, 2000;Perri, 2007). Another emphasizes reflection and analysis so youth have space to explore various conceptualizations of themselves and the community work (Hildreth, 2000).…”

John Dewey on experience: a critical resource for the theory and practice of youth civic engagement

“…PA is implemented in a variety of settings and ways: in an entire school, as an elective class, within a single class, as an after-school program, and as a non-school program (e.g., YWCA, Girl Scouts, etc. ; Hildreth 2000). There are also many colleges in the United States that also participate in PA. 4.…”