Civic Engagement

The focal point of current educational trend in the United States is on preparing the leaders of tomorrow (National Task Force, 2012). Student success has been expanded to include civic responsibility which is a dimension of the college experience largely ignored until recently (Upcraft, Gardner, & Barefoot, 2005). The Department of Education has taken this charge and developed the National Task Force for Democratic and Civic Engagement. This initiative places developing civic responsibility as a national priority based on the tendency of young people who are often too caught up in ‘narrow collegiate worlds’ of their own existence to understand the larger role of being a contributing member of society (Upcraft, Barefoot & Gardner, 2005). Thus, engagement as a participating citizen living in community is frequently beyond the scope of young student leaders in college. Due to this, the government has renewed its interest in creating civic-minded young people prepared to advocate for change. This has led the charge for a civic engagement initiative nationwide.

Civics and citizenship education is a vital part of the Australian curriculum, as it prepares students to become active and informed citizens in the community (ACARA, 2012). The term “civics and citizenship” covers a range of topics that relate to both the geography and history syllabuses. This includes government and democracy, citizenship, diversity and identity and laws and citizens. For students to be able to develop the necessary skills, attitudes and values to become active and informed citizens, civics and citizenship must be incorporated throughout the curriculum (ACARA, 2012). To understand the importance of civics and citizenship in primary education, both terms need to be understood and comprehended

Civics is a Grade 10 course where students learn about our political system, how public decisions are made, and the entitled rights and responsibility for a citizen who legally belongs to a country. In a course like civics, students critically investigate local, national, and worldwide issues with a political perspective. One aspect of the curriculum is personal action on civic issues, by which means students are to analyze a civic issue and develop an action plan to address it. Through this, our class worked with an organization named DILA (A Day of Information for a Lifetime of Action), an organization that aims towards engaging youth in Ottawa by encouraging hands-on engagement in their communities, addressing civic issues that individuals are passionate towards, and to increase the importance of the democratic decision-making process. A DILA project main objective is to simply empower the young millennials, by giving them a chance to let their ideas, imagination, and voice shine.

Civic engagement is extremely important to our state to stay aware of what is happening in our state. However, Texas also has a low rate of civic engagement. Being a part of something is a big advantage. You have support and your voice is more likely heard. According to TCHI “working in a community organization, donating, and being in charities is great ” (Texas 4). It is good to give to the community and let them know you care about the community. Another form of civic engagement would be writing to your elected officials. If, there is something wrong with your community that you want improvement in it is your responsibilities and freedom to talk to a representative to fix it! There is no shame on asking for something you deserve for the community.

An American Education has drastically changed over time, and it is widely known that things have changed. Students in their generation and ones prior are acutely aware and morally affected about subjects regarding

As the Latino population in the United States continues to increase, civic engagement is important in attaining political visibility and influence in every level of government. Initiating participation in local government is important in order to improve social ties and relationships among community members. On a city level, Latinos can practice civic engagement by attending city council meetings and participating in volunteering or community events. Through community building, Latinos can organize and work together in achieving common goals.

Student Learning Outcome #6 "Engage in reasoned civic discourse while recognizing the distinctions among opinions, fact, and inferences" supported with my Summaries Essay.

“When students see their ethnic identities represented in the curriculum, they see their cultural history is valued, which serves to promote students’ sense of political efficacy— i.e., their belief that participation in their nation’s governance may make a difference for them (Bernstein, 1986) This is an important student-learning outcome of a multicultural curriculum because, historically, people of color have not been empowered to influence political policies and institutions, which often leaves them with a sense of societal helplessness and a lack of political influence over their collective future (Ogbu, 1990).” (Thompson, 2012)

When deciding what topic I wanted to write for my Civic Engagement Project, I already had in mind that I wanted something that most of us are not use to seeing nowadays. Many of us compare courts with punishment, but what if there was a court that did the opposite? When I was starting my research on the different courts we have here in Florida, I came across Drug Courts. The more I read up on drug courts, the more I became fascinated and intrigued. Drug courts do not aim to "PUNISH”, but yet to provide treatment to drug abusers. This kind of court believes that everyone deserves a second chance, that extra push. During my research, I was interested in learning a few things. Such things I 'd like to learn about this kind of

The subject matter that I got to observe was the initial two “I can” statements of their social studies curriculum. Students’ “I can” statements included that “I can help create and follow our class and school rules” and “I can stand and say the Pledge of Allegiance”. I was also able to observe the principle discussing the values of respect, compassion, responsibility, honesty and self-discipline in the classroom, hallway, lunchroom, bathrooms, and riding on the bus. This subject matter is essential for both teaching and learning. The teacher needs to “plan and deliver an integrated, thoughtful, and organized” expectations/rules plan at the beginning of the year that will be effective and efficient throughout the year (Concordia, 2015, p.10). An ineffective plan could bring on a huge negative impact to the classroom and student learning. These rules and skills utilized in the classroom can also help the students’ learn by being able to reflect and understand civic values and identities which will be discussed in future lessons. This understanding can help

The Presidential election of 2000 was the first time we can account for having an election on both sides of the political parties making a real outreach to Latinos, but why is it that although we have been a part of this country’s history since before the beginning did it take so long for the Latino to final be a part of this civic engagement process?

Citizenship lessons educate young people about morals and principles within society. Teaching politics in schools would also educate and inform young people about political parties’ manifestos. “Data from the 2009 International Civic and Citizenship

Community life and civic engagement are a huge responsibility of citizens, although it is not required by citizens, it is an important aspect of a proper citizen. Residents of a community have the constant responsibility of making the society around them reflect an advance in the eminence of lives in the community. The simple duty of any citizen is to give to the common good. Civic responsibilities are achieved by volunteering and choice. Volunteering, involving in positive organizations and aids, or tutoring people in certain subjects, are all ways that people can subsidize to the good of the community. Small deeds that seem to prosper someone in some way or the other is still a way of helping. To learn something from the assistance that one does to another, the deed does not have to be big, as long as the person providing the assistance is doing it with a good heart they can always acknowledge a lesson. Compassion and love is necessary in helping others. When people have the opportunity to help others they may not always get a gift in return, sometimes they may not even get a reply back. This is when the person has to realize that the purpose of helping someone is not for the thank you or the gift, but is for the satisfaction of their soul, betterment of the other, and the ability to learn a lesson. Assisting people needs to be done in a thoughtful and effective way for it to create a lasting impact on his/her self and on society itself.

The aim of Social Studies is the promotion of civic competence the knowledge, intellectual processes, and democratic dispositions required of students to be active and engaged participants in public life. Proverbs 19:2 (ESV) states," Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way."For example it is essential for there to be commonalities across the grade levels so that there is a scaffolding of concepts to build from one grade level to the next.

Civic engagement refers to the ways in which citizens participate in the life of a community in order to improve conditions for others or to help shape the community’s future. It means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes.