Round one - Global Eh?

Response to:

Assignment A

Knight Abowitz & Harnish - Contemporary Discourses of Citizenship (2006).

Banks et al. - Democracy and Diversity (2005).

I suppose on the surface I was aware that there were differing theories on how to present the idea of American citizenship to students. However, I had never before thought critically about the origins of related thought and how they related to my practice

Abowitz and Harnish outlined the main points of, Civic Republican Citizenship, Liberal Citizenship, Cultural Citizenship, Trans-National Citizenship. Consistently while presenting these differing theories, Abowitz and Harnish emphasized the importance of a citizen's overarching commitment to the "common good." The authors' thoughts on critical discourse, civic literacy and a citizen's questioning of allowed voice hinted at a conclusion that reflected a civic commitment to not only a nation but rather a global community.

In his writing Banks didn't hint, he stated, loud and clear that he believed global citizenship should be taught in schools. After synthesizing Abowitz's and Harnish's descriptions of differing citizenship theory, Banks advocated for global citizenship as a means of communicating the importance of active involvement in government. His thoughts are that educational systems should subscribe to a curriculum that teaches American youth the importance of "membership" while not limiting them to a nation-specific view of belonging.

Banks, Abowitz and Harnish mention the push-pull between the diversity of Americans and the attempt to have students subscribe to an overarching set of ideas. I think the most incredible point Banks presents truly addresses what Abowitz and Harnish seemed to be grasping for. Banks suggests that we as educators bring civic education away from the American arena and make it a conversation about global issues. In doing this he states that students will begin, "linking their community [issues] to the larger world " (Banks 12).

These readings spurred me to look critically at how I have presented the idea of "a citizen" to students in the past, I have to say that Banks and I seem to be on the same page. I often use the UDHR and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in my planning but I never realized that what I originally deemed Human Rights Education could also be seen as Citizenship education.

Addendum:

Oh, I was so cute.

I chose this one because it really is a good illustration of where I came from. 

 Here I am linking my social justice background and human rights knowledge to Citizenship edu... little did I know that there was so much more :) Talk about a lightbulb moment.