According to a new paper by Judith Torney-Purta and Britt S.Wilkenfeld, “Civic education, especially when it is interactive and involves discussion of current issues, is an important way to develop the skills that young Americans need to succeed in the 21st Century workforce. Students who experience interactive discussion-based civic education (either by itself or in combination with lecture-based civic education) score the highest on “21st Century Competencies,” including working with others (especially in diverse groups) and knowledge of economic and political processes. Students who experience neither interactive nor lecture-based civic education have the lowest scores on all of the 21st Century competencies examined. This group, which comprises about one-quarter of all American students, shows not only low levels of knowledge but also a relatively low level of willingness to obey the law.”
The report, entitled “Paths to 21st Century Competencies through Civic Education Classrooms,” was commissioned by the American Bar Association Division for Public Education and the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools with some involvement by CIRCLE.
- Download the executive summary (PDF) or
- Download the full report (PDF)
Suggested citation: Torney-Purta, Judith and Wilkenfeld, Britt S. (2009). “Paths to 21st Century Competencies Through Civic Education Classrooms: An Analysis of Survey Results from Ninth-Graders.” Washington, DC: Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools and American Bar Association Division for Public Education. Accessed from CIRCLE via http://www.civicyouth.org/?p=360.




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Very interesting study paper. Yet more very compelling evidence of the importance of a good level of civic education. Trying to increase the percentage of the country that receives good civic education should clearly be a priority. I was surprised to read in the report that a quarter or American students ‘experience neither interactive nor lecture-based civic education’. That’s a high percentage.
In addition to basic skills in
reading and mathematics, they should study basic knowledge of economic and political processes, the ability to work well with others, especially
diverse groups as well creativity and innovation.
Civic education in America must develop international skills as well. In my opinion, americal education concentrate only on americal promlems. It is not good.
Thank you for the report! That is very useful! There many ways to improve Civic Education, many ideas!
Civic education sometimes make revisions so boosting civic education is a must. Let us take this as a birth of independence that have been earned to share so we need to remember this as a part of our history.
Ways or techniques on how to teach students have different level of effectiveness. That effectiveness will eventually result to either a positive or negative outcome.
Thank you for this information. You have done a great job. So many figures, everything is so exactly. Now we can see all demografic picture of the alection.Thank you for highlighting this. Keep up your work.
I can´t disagree, civic education is base for social engagement these days.
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Schools must think of an effective technique on how their teachers handle their students in order to learn more about their discussions. They should not rely on old school ways of teaching - teachers do the discussion and students just listen to them. Encourage students to participate in the room discussion through interesting activites.
I believe literature is not sufficient to educate moral character values. We need to educate students by shaping their behaviors of reinforcement of our required actions and negative reinforcement of their unrequired actions… this is how we can accomplish the aim of forming good behaviors and moral beliefs among students.
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We need to focus on the quality of education that we offer to our youth. Most of the times, this is the main reason why students tend to forget their social responsibility. We need to make them aware of the day to day happenings in our society.
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Children need to be taught in a different way I think, the focous should be on social skills during ediucation, somehow isntilling a desire for further learning upon leaving formal education.
Civic education emphasizes the idea that you should think for yourself and examine all sides of an issue while indoctrination teaches you only one side.
We had to take a civics course in high school. Seemed silly at the time, but it got us more involved with our local and regional community.
This report is very cool, I like it very much, it help very much in my study at school.
Thank you very much.
I thought civic classes in school were dumb at the time but they helped me become a better person.
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I agree with the point raised above - any country needs to educate its children about the problems in the outside world. meditation music
Why these skills are important?
Civic Education or development is an important study area as often young people do not understand the reasons why a certain law has been passed or civic action has occurred. This offers an opportunity for healthy debate and learning. Without this students continue to mimic their parents or role models without the appropriate level of information and understanding. We would professionally support the introduction of community development and or for want of another description Civic Education as a core subject in primary and secondary education. The ability to question, research and evaluate is the key to thinking, productive adults.
Best regards
Dean
Itil Study
Civic Education is an important component of education that cultivates
citizens to participate in the public life of a democracy, to use their rights
and to discharge their responsibilities with the necessary knowledge and
skills. American schools have advanced a distinctively civic mission since
the earliest days of this Republic. It was immediately recognized that a free
society must ultimately depend on its citizens, and that the way to infuse the
people with the necessary qualities is through education. As one step of this
education process, higher education has been assuming the mission to foster
citizens with the spirit to lead. The literature on this contribution, and civic
education in general, is characterized by its broad time range, its
composition of diverse voices from all kinds of participating social units
(from individual to government), and the existence of rich international and
comparative studies.
public accomplishments direction America commitment be present international skills as just. In my opinion, americal goods muster personalized on americal promlems. It is not adapted.
like pua game said above:”Civic Education is an important component of education that cultivates
citizens to participate in the public life of a democracy, to use their rights
and to discharge their responsibilities with the necessary knowledge and
skills”
It is the fundamental law of democracy in my opinion.
yes… it is the fundamental law of democracy and it must be followed by every person
Civic Education aims at imparting the knowledge and skills that we need for effective participation in the community, government, and politics.
We should be a part of it!
These reports are very great, I like them very much.
Thanks for share.
We need to focus on the quality of education that we offer to our youth. Most of the times, this is the main reason why students tend to forget their social responsibility.
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Civic Education or development is an important study area as often young people do not understand the reasons why a certain law has been passed or civic action has occurred. This offers an opportunity for healthy debate and learning. Without this students continue to mimic their parents or role models without the appropriate level of information and understanding. We would professionally support the introduction of community development and or for want of another description Civic Education as a core subject in primary and secondary education. The ability to question, research and evaluate is the key to thinking, productive adults.
Why are these skills important?
Civic Education aims at imparting the knowledge and skills that we need for effective participation in the community, government, and politics.
Thank you for the report! That is very useful! There many ways to improve Civic Education, many ideas!
From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! Keep up the excellent work.
It was immediately recognized that a free society must ultimately depend on its citizens, and that the way to infuse the people with the necessary qualities is through education. As one step of this education process, higher education has been assuming the mission to foster citizens with the spirit to lead.
Civic education emphasizes the idea that you should think for yourself and examine all sides of an issue while indoctrination teaches you only one side.
Thank you for this informative post on civic education, i have added you to my RSS feeds and will be back again! -john
Thank you for this analysis. I’m student of sociological department. I need such surveys for my diploma. I think I can take this subject for the basis. Keep up your work.
Schools must think of an effective technique on how their teachers handle their students in order to learn more about their discussions. I did read this blog and it was very interesting. I liked the second part the most.
Great report….
Young Americans will need more than this to succeed today. The best advice is to start creating an income online. It can be anything such as writing an ebook using book software or just starting a blog
Civic education in America must develop international skills as well. In my opinion, americal education concentrate only on americal promlems. Thank you for highlighting this, keep up your good work.
Very interesting study document. However, the most convincing evidence of the importance of a good level of civic education. Trying to increase the percentage of the country that receives a good civic education should clearly be a priority. I was surprised to read in the report that a quarter or experience American students’ non-interactive, or lectures based on civic education. That’s a high percentage.
Schools must think of an effective technique on how their teachers handle their students in order to learn more about their discussions. I did read this blog and it was very interesting.
nowadays the school is not what it was.
I dont know what is the reason… the mentality, the modern lifestyle, etc
Students can be diligent voters with high turnout, both by absentee ballot and in local voting.
This report about “Civic Education Boosts 21st-Century Skills” is very nformative, I like it very much, it help very much in my study at school. Thank you very much.
I agree with Judith and Brit. Great work, just keep on…
Increasing the percentage of the kids that receive a quality or basic at least civic education should be a national priority.
Interaction is such an important part of education, yet it’s often taken for granted and overlooked.
I believe that students nowadays are too relaxed, teachers do all work for them and that is not ok. Students should participate as much as they can during the class, and they have the possibilities to do that. The problem is that they do not want to participate, they just want to get the grade and finish. They do not care how high is their knowledge actually. And that is wrong. Like Judith Torney-Purta and Britt S.Wilkenfeld told us: “Students who experience neither interactive nor lecture-based civic education have the lowest scores on all of the 21st Century competencies examined.” And they are absolutely right!
21-st century skills make computer science skills part of any job.
Web development, Web development“>seo services and social networks are almost known for each person.
I can´t disagree .stiff to augment the percentage of the division that .
There are many things that should be explained or clarified. Maybe write another article which will consider all this.
Stirring think a lot of paper. more conclusive proof of the importance of entrepreneurial entitled to terminate a public grant. hard to increase the percentage of the division that receives proper discernment civic body should definitely an emergency. I was surprised to illustrate the prominence of the national education report that a berth or American student experience nor interactive lecture-based. “That is a rule of law.
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studenten act to me very much suffer to succeed I must go no more to trains
Civic Education or development is an important study area as often young people do not understand the reasons why a certain law has been passed or civic action has occurred. This offers an opportunity for healthy debate and learning. Without this students continue to mimic their parents or role models without the appropriate level of information and understanding. We would professionally support the introduction of community development and or for want of another description Civic Education as a core subject in primary and secondary education. The ability to question, research and evaluate is the key to thinking, productive adults. Thanks
maybe you should organize more international conferences about this issue… in the future we should change something for sure
that is democracy… but we should change something in the future
nice shot!
This report on “Civic Education promotes 21st century skills” is very nformative, I like that help a lot in my study at school. Thank you very much.
I am not sure if all you said above is real… but I guess it is
you really have avery nice article,it’s the first time to be here but it won’t be the last untill then keep update..goodluck!
Children need to be taught in a different way
I completely agree. The social/interactive part of education is of huge importance.