Contribution
Description: Today the issue of citizenship is firmly on the education agenda, not only in Scotland but in countries across Europe and elsewhere. (e.g. North America, Australia). However, contemporary debates regarding citizenship have highlighted its contested nature and the variety of ways in which the concept is understood. For example, some definitions stress participation and 'active citizenship' while others emphasise individual rights versus responsibilities. Clearly how citizenship is conceptualised and thus defined has implications for the implementation of citizenship education in schools. As a consequence this paper aims to examine the difficulties and challenges associated with the concept and explore contrasting models of implementation. While the prime focus will be on the Scottish context, attention will be also be paid to other national settings where the process of implementation has taken a rather different route and form (e.g. England, United States, Hungrary). Rather than taking a subject specific approach as in England, the model advocated in Scotland is one where citizenship education permeates the curriculum and pupils' learning. This model is enshrined in a number of key policy documents (e.g. LTS 2002). In conclusion to this paper questioned raised by different models of implementation will be addressed.
Methodology: This paper builds on a collaborative literature review which focused on the concept of citizenship, undertaken under the auspices of the Applied Educational Research Scheme (see aers@ac.uk) 'School Management and Governance' Network. The Aers consortium of Scottish Universities include the University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde and University of Stirling Scotland.
Conclusions: The above literature review is the first part of a programme of research on: 'Citizenship and Democracy' led by Professor K. Livingston, University of Aberdeen. This includes a policy analysis of key Scottish policy documents relating to citizenship education and an empirical investigation of the implementation of citizenship education in schools across in Scotland.
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