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
Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/87y2v/a-case-for-cautious-optimism-active-citizenship-and-the-australian-civics-and-citizenship-curriculum

Download files


Accepted author manuscript
  • 74
    total views
  • 265
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 2
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Civic republican social justice and the case of state grammar schools in England
Peterson, A. 2017. Civic republican social justice and the case of state grammar schools in England. Studies in Philosophy and Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11217-017-9580-5
Civic virtue and global responsibilities: the possibility of a character-based approach to educating global citizens in Australia?
Peterson, A. 2015. Civic virtue and global responsibilities: the possibility of a character-based approach to educating global citizens in Australia? in: Print, M. and Tan, C. (ed.) Educating ‘Good’ Citizens in a Globalising World for the Twenty-First Century Rotterdam Sense.
Developing inclusive civics and citizenship education for diverse learners
Peterson, A. and Tudball, L. 2016. Developing inclusive civics and citizenship education for diverse learners. in: Peterson, A. and Tudball, L. (ed.) Civics and Citizenship in Australia: Challenges, Practices and International Perspectives London Bloomsbury.
Connecting values and religion with civics and citizenship education
Peterson, A. and Bentley, B. 2016. Connecting values and religion with civics and citizenship education. in: Peterson, A. and Tudball, L. (ed.) Civics and Citizenship in Australia: Challenges, Practices and International Perspectives London Bloomsbury.
Social justice and education for citizenship in England
Peterson, A. and Davies, I. 2016. Social justice and education for citizenship in England. in: Peterson, A., Hattam, R., Zembylas, M. and Arthur, J. (ed.) The Palgrave International Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Social Justice Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
Global justice and educating for globally oriented citizenship
Peterson, A. 2016. Global justice and educating for globally oriented citizenship. in: Peterson, A., Hattam, R., Zembylas, M. and Arthur, J. (ed.) The Palgrave International Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Social Justice Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
Global learning and education: key concepts and effective practice
Peterson, A. and Warwick, P. 2014. Global learning and education: key concepts and effective practice. London Routledge.
Education, globalization and the nation
Chong, K., Davies, I., Epstein, T., Peck, C., Peterson, A., Ross, A., Schmidt, M., Sears, A. and Sonu, D. 2015. Education, globalization and the nation. Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
Compassion and education: cultivating compassionate children, schools and communities
Peterson, A. 2017. Compassion and education: cultivating compassionate children, schools and communities. Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
Inclusive educational provision for newly-arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children: a study in a single school in Kent
Peterson, A., Durrant, I., Meehan, C. and Ali, Z. 2017. Inclusive educational provision for newly-arrived unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee children: a study in a single school in Kent. Canterbury Canterbury Christ Church University.
What are the educational needs and experiences of asylum-seeking and refugee children, including those who are unaccompanied, with a particular focus on inclusion? - A literature review
Peterson, A., Meehan, C., Ali, Z. and Durrant, I. 2017. What are the educational needs and experiences of asylum-seeking and refugee children, including those who are unaccompanied, with a particular focus on inclusion? - A literature review. Canterbury Canterbury Christ Church University.
The contested place of religion in the Australian Civics and Citizenship curriculum: exploring the secular in a multi-faith society
Peterson, A. 2016. The contested place of religion in the Australian Civics and Citizenship curriculum: exploring the secular in a multi-faith society. British Journal of Religious Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/01416200.2015.1113931
Education for citizenship in South Australian public schools: a pilot study of senior leader and teacher perceptions
Peterson, A. and Bentley, B. 2016. Education for citizenship in South Australian public schools: a pilot study of senior leader and teacher perceptions. Curriculum Journal. 28 (1), pp. 105-122. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585176.2016.1184579
Different battlegrounds, similar concerns? The “history wars” and the teaching of history in Australia and England
Peterson, A. 2016. Different battlegrounds, similar concerns? The “history wars” and the teaching of history in Australia and England. Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education. 46 (6), pp. 861-881. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2015.1049978
Securitisation and/or Westernisation: dominant discourses of Australian values and the implications for teacher education
Peterson, A. and Bentley, B. 2016. Securitisation and/or Westernisation: dominant discourses of Australian values and the implications for teacher education. Journal of Education for Teaching. 42 (2), pp. 239-251. https://doi.org/10.1080/02607476.2016.1143141
Can creativity be assessed? Towards an evidence informed framework for assessing and planning progress in creativity
Blamires, M. and Peterson, A. 2014. Can creativity be assessed? Towards an evidence informed framework for assessing and planning progress in creativity. Cambridge Journal of Education. 44 (2), pp. 147-162. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305764X.2013.860081
Can creativity be assessed? Towards an evidence informed framework for assessing and planning progress in creativity
Blamires, M. and Peterson, A. 2013. Can creativity be assessed? Towards an evidence informed framework for assessing and planning progress in creativity.
Creatividad, cultura y education: creativity culture and education
Blamires, M. and Peterson, A. 2013. Creatividad, cultura y education: creativity culture and education. University de Las Tunas.
Schools and their communities: pupil and teacher perceptions of community action
Durrant, I., Peterson, A., Hoult, E. and Leith, L. 2011. Schools and their communities: pupil and teacher perceptions of community action.
Civic republicanism
Peterson, A. 2012. Civic republicanism. in: Arthur, J. and Peterson, A. (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Education Abingdon Routledge. pp. 20-27
Where now for citizenship education?
Peterson, A. 2011. Where now for citizenship education? in: Arthur, J. and Cremin, H. (ed.) Debates in Citizenship Teaching Abingdon Routledge.
Issues of truth and justice
Davies, I. and Peterson, A. 2012. Issues of truth and justice. in: Arthur, J., Waring, M., Coe, R. and Hedges, L. (ed.) Research Methods and Methodologies in Education London SAGE. pp. 108-113
An introduction to education and values
Peterson, A. 2013. An introduction to education and values. in: Arthur, J. and Lovat, T. (ed.) International Handbook of Religion and Values Abingdon Routledge.
Civic republicanism and civic education: the education of citizens
Peterson, A. 2011. Civic republicanism and civic education: the education of citizens. London Palgrave.
The common good and citizenship education in England: a moral enterprise?
Peterson, A. 2011. The common good and citizenship education in England: a moral enterprise? Journal of Moral Education. 40 (1), pp. 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240.2011.541763
Republican cosmopolitanism: democratising the global dimensions of citizenship education
Peterson, A. 2011. Republican cosmopolitanism: democratising the global dimensions of citizenship education. Oxford Review of Education. 37 (3), pp. 421-435. https://doi.org/10.1080/03054985.2011.564849
Education and schooling 11-16 years
Peterson, A. and Leighton, R. 2012. Education and schooling 11-16 years. in: Arthur, J. and Peterson, A. (ed.) The Routledge Companion to Education Abingdon Routledge. pp. 190-198
Post secular trends: issues of faith and education
Bowie, R. A., Peterson, A. and Revell, L. 2012. Post secular trends: issues of faith and education. Journal of Beliefs & Values: Studies in Religion & Education. 33 (2), pp. 139-141. https://doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2012.694057
Pupil and teacher perceptions of community action: an English context
Durrant, I., Peterson, A., Leith, L. and Hoult, E. 2012. Pupil and teacher perceptions of community action: an English context. Educational Research. 54 (3), pp. 259-283. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131881.2012.710087
The impact of extended services in Kent
Durrant, I. and Peterson, A. 2012. The impact of extended services in Kent. Canterbury Canterbury Christ Church University.
Student teacher understandings of active citizenship
Knowles, C. and Peterson, A. 2007. Student teacher understandings of active citizenship.
Student teacher understandings of active citizenship
Knowles, C. and Peterson, A. 2007. Student teacher understandings of active citizenship.
The formation and expression of character: schools, families and citizenship
Peterson, A. 2010. The formation and expression of character: schools, families and citizenship. in: Arthur, J. (ed.) Citizens of character: New directions in character and values education Exeter, UK Imprint Academic. pp. 131-150
Moral learning in history education
Peterson, A. 2010. Moral learning in history education. in: Davies, I. (ed.) Debates in History Teaching Abingdon, Oxford, UK Routledge. pp. 161-171
Citizenship: making links with history
Peterson, A. 2010. Citizenship: making links with history. in: Gearon, L. (ed.) Learning to Teach Citizenship in the Secondary School: A Companion to School Experience London Routledge. pp. 172-184
Active citizenship: a preliminary study into student teacher understandings
Peterson, A. and Knowles, C. 2009. Active citizenship: a preliminary study into student teacher understandings. Educational Research. 51 (1), pp. 39-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131880802704731
Civic republicanism and contestatory deliberation: framing pupil discourse within citzenship education
Peterson, A. 2009. Civic republicanism and contestatory deliberation: framing pupil discourse within citzenship education. British Journal of Educational Studies. 57 (1), pp. 55-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8527.2009.00426.x