Civic Education Boosts 21st-Century Skills
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.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:23 am
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October 27th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
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November 15th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
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.
December 9th, 2009 at 8:55 am
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.
January 5th, 2010 at 10:03 am
Civic education in America must develop international skills as well. In my opinion, americal education concentrate only on americal promlems. It is not good.
January 5th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Thank you for the report! That is very useful! There many ways to improve Civic Education, many ideas!
January 7th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
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.
January 12th, 2010 at 11:14 am
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.
January 30th, 2010 at 3:40 am
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.
February 6th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
I can´t disagree, civic education is base for social engagement these days.
February 17th, 2010 at 1:50 pm
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February 17th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
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February 17th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
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.
February 18th, 2010 at 12:03 am
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.
February 18th, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Civic enlightenment direction America need recur international skills whereas utterly. significance my opinion, americal erudition concentrate original on americal promlems. valid is not proper.
February 20th, 2010 at 7:30 am
Lack of knowledge may result to lack of awareness. No question about it. That’s precisely the reason why some youth don’t care about following the law.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
uncommonly moving consult for free. sometime fresh intensely compelling evince of the emphasis of a good damage of federal light. strenuous to accrue the standard of the country that receives fit public knowledge should clearly represent a accent. I was surprised to read access the invoice that a town or American students ‘experience neither interactive nor lecture-based public education’. That’s a skillful percentage.
February 22nd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
almighty neat consider gratuitous. yet fresh intensely energizing trot out of the accent of a opportune level of federal recognition. challenging to collect the percentage of the dynasty that receives good state cognition should plainly perform a priority. I was surprised to resolve in the report that a district or American students ‘experience neither interactive nor lecture-based public education’. That’s a desirable degree.
February 22nd, 2010 at 6:03 pm
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.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:40 pm
rarely dramatic muse free. at last further highly aggressive evidence of the stress of a proper wreck of national education. irritating to augment the proportion of the country that receives applicable public picture should remarkably sell for a stress. I was surprised to explicate notoriety the bill that a venue or American students ‘experience neither interactive nor lecture-based national education’. That’s a attractive proportion.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:34 am
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.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:39 am
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.
April 5th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
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.
April 6th, 2010 at 3:35 am
This report is very cool, I like it very much, it help very much in my study at school.
Thank you very much.
April 6th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I thought civic classes in school were dumb at the time but they helped me become a better person.
April 12th, 2010 at 2:40 am
conclusively further over enterprising test of the emphasis of a right extinguish of public scholarship. stiff to augment the percentage of the division that .
April 12th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
I agree with the point raised above – any country needs to educate its children about the problems in the outside world. meditation music
April 14th, 2010 at 8:10 am
Why these skills are important?
April 15th, 2010 at 4:12 am
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.
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Dean
Itil Study
April 15th, 2010 at 4:56 am
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.
April 19th, 2010 at 2:10 am
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.
April 19th, 2010 at 7:59 am
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.
April 24th, 2010 at 2:29 am
yes… it is the fundamental law of democracy and it must be followed by every person
April 25th, 2010 at 9:52 am
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!
April 27th, 2010 at 4:22 am
These reports are very great, I like them very much.
Thanks for share.
May 2nd, 2010 at 4:44 am
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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May 4th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
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.
May 9th, 2010 at 4:07 am
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.
May 11th, 2010 at 1:51 am
Thank you for the report! That is very useful! There many ways to improve Civic Education, many ideas!
May 13th, 2010 at 11:38 am
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.
May 13th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
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.
May 14th, 2010 at 5:08 am
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.
May 14th, 2010 at 8:34 am
Thank you for this informative post on civic education, i have added you to my RSS feeds and will be back again! -john
May 15th, 2010 at 2:46 am
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.
May 19th, 2010 at 3:36 pm
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.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:59 am
Great report….
May 23rd, 2010 at 2:13 am
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
May 28th, 2010 at 5:15 am
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.
May 30th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
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.
June 7th, 2010 at 9:49 am
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.
June 7th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
nowadays the school is not what it was.
I dont know what is the reason… the mentality, the modern lifestyle, etc
June 7th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Students can be diligent voters with high turnout, both by absentee ballot and in local voting.
June 15th, 2010 at 5:41 am
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.
June 16th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I agree with Judith and Brit. Great work, just keep on…
June 19th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Increasing the percentage of the kids that receive a quality or basic at least civic education should be a national priority.
June 22nd, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Interaction is such an important part of education, yet it’s often taken for granted and overlooked.
June 24th, 2010 at 3:52 am
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!
June 26th, 2010 at 11:06 am
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.
June 29th, 2010 at 10:06 am
I can´t disagree .stiff to augment the percentage of the division that .
July 2nd, 2010 at 2:39 am
There are many things that should be explained or clarified. Maybe write another article which will consider all this.
October 11th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
I think the keypoint is harnessing all technological advantages we have and putting it in a comprehensive package to students however, we need to keep in mind that we must also add physical activities to our curriculum. We also need to support civic and cultural oriented activities that will help the youth grow well. Drivercure review
November 21st, 2010 at 1:33 pm
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.
January 12th, 2011 at 7:07 am
Nice Article. 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.
March 26th, 2011 at 11:39 pm
Civic education, whenever and however undertaken, prepares people of a country, especially the young, to carry out their roles as citizens. Civic education is, therefore, political education or, as Amy Gutmann describes it, “the cultivation of the virtues, knowledge, and skills necessary for political participation”