Overview

How can schools teach the skills required for a strong democracy to flourish? What Kind of Citizen? asks readers to imagine the kind of society they would like to live in—and then shows the ways in which schools can be used to make that vision a reality. Westheimer draws on groundbreaking research on school programs and policies to sharply critique the current direction of school reform. He points to the many varied and powerful ways to teach children and young adults to engage critically, to think about social issues, and to participate in authentic debate that acknowledges that intelligent adults can have different opinions. But today’s teachers are being forced to abandon these practices in favor of test-preparation in only a very narrow set of academic subjects. How did this happen? What can we do to set schools back on the right track? How can we realign school goals with what research shows parents, children, and teachers actually care about? How can we save our schools from today’s myopic interpretation of what constitutes an education? Westheimer answers these questions and makes a powerful call for schools to become more engaging, more democratic, and more educative.

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9780807756355

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Reviews

The message of this short and accessible book is that it is vital for schools to resist the pressures of standardization and offer educational spaces where young people can learn about what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society. --Philosophical Inquiry in Education Joel Westheimer's compelling book What Kind of Citizen? Educating Our Children for the Common Good is a play in two acts with several scenes in each act...The play begins in tragedy but ends in comedy - that is, comedy in the Shakespearean sense of focusing on a happy outcome for the characters. Like Shakespeare, Westheimer has written a play for the masses: well written, fast paced and full of easy to follow anecdotes and examples drawn from his long experience as an educator and researcher. --Citizenship, Teaching & Learning A compelling read, this book will have anyone with a vested interest in the future citizens of our world pausing to question the education system as we know it and forming their own opinions on what matters most for these children. A good read for teachers in need of some inspiration or for anyone looking for more insight into education in America. --Green Teacher Magazine

""A compelling read, this book will have anyone with a vested interest in the future citizens of our world pausing to question the education system as we know it and forming their own opinions on what matters most for these children. A good read for teachers in need of some inspiration or for anyone looking for more insight into education in America."" —Green Teacher Magazine ""Joel Westheimer’s compelling book What Kind of Citizen? Educating Our Children for the Common Good is a play in two acts with several scenes in each act...The play begins in tragedy but ends in comedy – that is, comedy in the Shakespearean sense of focusing on a happy outcome for the characters. Like Shakespeare, Westheimer has written a play for the masses: well written, fast paced and full of easy to follow anecdotes and examples drawn from his long experience as an educator and researcher."" —Citizenship, Teaching & Learning ""The message of this short and accessible book is that it is vital for schools to resist the pressures of standardization and offer educational spaces where young people can learn about what it means to be a citizen in a democratic society. "" —Philosophical Inquiry in Education

Author Information

Joel Westheimer is professor and university research chair in sociology of education at the University of Ottawa and education columnist for CBC Radio. He is the editor of Pledging Allegiance: The Politics of Patriotism in America's Schools.

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