Better values? Better attitudes? A case study of an innovative approach to citizenship in a secondary (high) school in the west of Scotland

Maitles, H. (2009) Better values? Better attitudes? A case study of an innovative approach to citizenship in a secondary (high) school in the west of Scotland. In: European conference of educational research, 2009-09-28 - 2009-09-30. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Education for citizenship is a priority area in Europe. In the Scottish education system, it is now explicit in the major curricular change - A Curriculum for Excellence. This has highlighted the rationale for its immersion in the school curriculum. In most European countries, the proposals as they come down to the schools have 2 main areas to focus on. Firstly, there is the issue of the student voice. Secondly, there is its involvement in the curriculum, suggesting aspects of political literacy, the development of creativity and enterprise in the widest sense, and the development of informed attitudes. In Scotland, unlike some other European countries where it is a subject in its own right, it is expected that citizenship will permeate the curriculum involving all subjects in the school. Thirdly,, there is the understanding of the need for community involvement in the many and varied communities that we belong to. There is a case for giving pupils experience in areas of learning relating to citizenship issues out with the structures of the traditional subject based classroom. Such a method of learning has been attempted in this West of Scotland comprehensive. Research Questions • Examine the programme of citizenship learning put in place; • Is there an impact - in this instance short term --, in promoting positive values and attitudes, of developing citizenship content outwith the traditional structures of learning.

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