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URAIA NA MAADILI - DARASA LA SABA - NOTES
Bonyeza Hapa kusoma vizuri kitabu kinachoonekana hapo chini
What is civic education?
Civic Education
in a democracy is education in self government. Democratic self government
means that citizens are actively involved in their own governance; they do not
just passively accept the dictums of others or acquiesce to the demands of
others. As Aristotle put it in his Politics (c 340 BC), "If liberty and equality, as is thought by some,
are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be attained when all persons
alike share in the government to the utmost."
Civic
education in a democratic society most assuredly needs to be concerned with
promoting understanding of the ideals of democracy and a reasoned commitment to
the values and principles of democracy. That does not mean, however, that
democracy should be presented as utopia. Democracy is not utopian, and citizens
need to understand that lest they become cynical, apathetic, or simply withdraw
from political life when their unrealistic expectations are not met. To be
effective civic education must be realistic; it must address the central truths
about political life. The American Political Science Association (APSA)
recently formed a Task Force on Civic Education. Its statement of purpose calls
for more realistic teaching about the nature of political life and a better
understanding of "the complex elements of 'the art of the possible'."
In other words,
the ideals of democracy are most completely realized when every member of the
political community shares in its governance. Members of the political
community are its citizens, hence citizenship in a democracy is membership in
the body politic. Membership implies participation, but not participation for
participation's sake. Citizen participation in a democratic society must be
based on informed, critical reflection, and on the understanding and acceptance
of the rights and responsibilities that go with that membership.
Each of us should strive to be a citizen that is actively
involved in our governance. Civic education is not limited to participation in
politics and society, it also encompasses participation in classrooms,
neighborhoods, groups and organizations. In civics, students learn to
contribute to public processes and discussions of real issues. Students can
also learn civic practices such as voting, volunteering, jury service, and
joining with others to improve society. Civics enables students not only to
study how others participate, but also to practice participating and taking
informed action themselves.
The Importance of Civic
Education
Each of us
should strive to be a citizen that is actively involved in our governance.
Civic education is not limited to participation in politics and society, it
also encompasses participation in classrooms, neighborhoods, groups and
organizations. In civics, students learn to contribute to public processes and
discussions of real issues. Students can also learn civic practices such as
voting, volunteering, jury service, and joining with others to improve society.
Civics enables students not only to study how others participate, but also to
practice participating and taking informed action themselves.
Civic education empowers us to be well-informed, active citizens and
gives us the opportunity to change the world around us. It is a vital part of
any democracy, and equips ordinary people with knowledge about our democracy
and our Constitution. For example, voting is a major responsibility every
citizen should take advantage of.
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