A case for cautious optimism? Active citizenship and the Australian Civics and Citizenship curriculum

Journal article


Peterson, A. and Bentley, B. 2016. A case for cautious optimism? Active citizenship and the Australian Civics and Citizenship curriculum. Asia Pacific Journal of Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2016.1142424
AuthorsPeterson, A. and Bentley, B.
Abstract

In late 2013 a new curriculum for Civics and Citizenship education was published by the Australian Curriculum and Assessment Reporting Authority for use in Australian schools. In line with previous curricular initiatives concerning education for citizenship in Australia a key rationale behind the new subject is the education of “active citizens”. Research evidence over the last twenty-five years paints a mixed picture regarding the extent to which the translation of policy intent has been successfully implemented within Australian schools. Exploring the new subject of Civics and Citizenship in Australia in the context of previous initiatives and existing research evidence, we explore the contested and complex nature of active citizenship around three key issues – the scope and form of action that constitutes citizenship in one’s communities, how young people themselves conceptualize and experience participation, the potential that active citizenship opportunities are interpreted as being synonymous with the use of active teaching and learning methods. On this basis we argue that the new curriculum provides some optimism for those committed to education for citizenship in Australian schools, but that this optimism needs to be tempered with a degree of caution.

Year2016
JournalAsia Pacific Journal of Education
PublisherTaylor & Francis
ISSN0218-8791
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/02188791.2016.1142424
Publication dates
Online04 Mar 2016
Publication process dates
Deposited18 Oct 2016
Accepted23 Nov 2015
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Page range1-13
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https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/87y2v/a-case-for-cautious-optimism-active-citizenship-and-the-australian-civics-and-citizenship-curriculum

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