Active Citizenship Harnessing the

Potential: Why, what and how

October 2015

eTwinning Annual Conference 2015

Brussels

David Kerr CF Director of Education

Senior Teaching FellowUniversity of Bristol

Visiting Professor of CitizenshipBirkbeck CollegeUniversity of Londondavid.kerr@citizenshipfoundation.org.uk

Aims of this presentation…To answer some key questions:

1.What is active citizenship – aims and goals?

2.Why active citizenship now?

3.How is active citizenship approached – contexts and methodology?

4.How well - what are the benefits and challenges of effective active citizenship?

What is active citizenship – aims and

goals?

Definition of Active/Participatory Citizenship

‘Participation in civil society, community and/or political life, characterized by mutual respect and non-violence and in accordance with human rights and democracy’. Definition broadly blends the practices of different models of citizenship across EuropeAll actions must be underpinned by the values of human rights and democracy

Purpose and Definition?Education for Democratic Citizenship means education, training, awareness-raising, information, practices and activities which aim, by equipping learners with knowledge, skills and understanding and developing their attitudes and behaviour to empower them to exercise and defend their democratic rights and responsibilities in society, to value diversity and to play an active part in democratic life, with a view to the promotion and protection of democracy and the rule of law. (CoE Charter on EDC and HRE (2010))

Why active citizenship now?

‘..the new challenge of how to prepare young people for democracy in contexts that are quite different from those that have been known in the past.’

Kerry Kennedy

Climate Change/Global Warming

Migration of Peoples

Democracy in Europe

Combatting violence and extremism

Global Capitalism and Jobs

Student Voice

New and Unknown Challenges

Global Responses

Global Competence PISA 2018

• Increasing globalization• Interconnectedness• Multimodal forms of communication• Multicultural and multinational learning

and work environments• Need to prepare learners for our 21st

century, global community

Educating and engaging citizens

All over the developed world ‘democratic deficit’ Less engagement with formal politics and political processes Voting no longer seen as a ‘civic duty’ by younger generations Declining trust in politicians and decision makers

Increasing gap between generations Voting highest among over 65s Increased use of social media by younger generations Increased involvement in ‘one off’ protests/boycotts

Debate as to whether an issue of ‘age’ or a significant and permanent ‘generational shift’

Pessimists Democracies are severely threatened and

weakened

Young people’s avoidance of traditional political activity constitutes a problem: Fewer and fewer will represent them Fewer and fewer want to be represented by

anyone

Optimists No crisis, just changed modes of engagement

Interest and citizen engagement are stable

Political consumption, internet and ad hoc-actions widen the participatory repertoireEven if they don’t compensate for the youth

absence in political parties and youth branchesYoung people create new venues for political

involvement and help democracies to survive

How is active citizenship best

approached – contexts and methodology?

Three contexts (Cs) for active citizenship

Why schools and classrooms matter

• Schools and classrooms can be a key source of learning for young people in developing civic competences

• Schools give young people their first experience of public life

• Schools and classrooms are a common denominator in young people’s lives

• Schools can be a source of learning for adults as well as young people

School community Opportunities for young people to:

• Develop social and personal relationships

• Express their views and opinions

• Take part in decision-making

• Become involved in positions and roles that have responsibilities

Often termed ‘Democratic school culture’

Wider communities

• Bringing the community and civil society INTO the school

• Taking the school OUT INTO the community and civil society

Wider communities – local to global – power of ICT and social media

What to address in the DCHRE ‘Contexts’

Competence Based

Civic Competence

Dispositions/Behaviours

Affective(Doing/Active)

Cognitive(Knowing)

Knowledge Skills Attitudes Values

How well - Who benefits from active citizenship and how?

What are the challenges?

Benefits of active citizenship for Schools and Communities • Improves discipline

• Enhances learning and teamwork• Reduces violence, conflict and

discrimination• Provides a nicer working environment

for everybody in the school• Improves exam performance• Secures the future existence of

sustainable democracies

Impact - Civic KnowledgeHaving a high civic knowledge score is a strong predictor of positive pupil outcomes to: -voting in future elections-support for democratic values-gender equality-equal rights for ethnic minority and immigrant groups-interest in social and political issues

Benefits and impact of CE • School leaders and teachers increasingly

recognising benefits of introducing CE - at school level - at student level - at community level

• Also aware of impact of CE IN and BEYOND school

Areas CE is having an impact

What are the challenges for active

citizenship?

Trial and Error!

Support and Training

Did you spot him?

Can you spot him again?

Framework for ActionCouncil of Europe Charter on

Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education – adopted by the Commıttee of Mınısters on 11 May 2010

Policy Tool - Strategic Support for Decision Makers

Competences Framework for DCHRE and intercultural dialogue

“Democracy Generation”EDC/HRE Joint Project in Turkey

Celebrate

School Support

Generation Democracyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwMiPwyTZCc

Five findings to share with you1. How political interest develops over time2. When parents mean most3. How Internet use affects citizen norms and

actions4. Citizen participation as a two-dimensional

concept5. Why political interest not always or

everywhere translates into political participation

1. How interest develops over time

Mean levels of Discussion with parents

Diverse impact of media use

Traditional news media use primarily contributes to the development of Dutiful Citizen qualities – such as political knowledge and political trust

Creative online media use promotes Actualizing Citizen qualities – such as cause-oriented online and offline activism as well as internal efficacy

Passive or active?

(Amnå and Ekman, 2014)

Standby citizens

Citizens who are disposed to act, knowledgeable, efficacious, competent

They have positive feelings for politics They have made plans for themselves including a

future political engagement In every aspect, they are closer to the active ones than

to the unengaged and the disillusioned If they move, the move significantly to the active

group – and not to any of the other groups At the individual level, the reasons for stepping in

seem to be a decreased satisfaction with democracy

(Amnå and Ekman, 2014)

Percentage of Standby citizens in full and flawed European democracies

Benefits for All!https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oUvytXqcz0I

Layered contexts (Cs) for citizen engagement and active

citizenship

What kind of education system do we need?

What kind of society do we want?Chilean writer

Thank yougood luck and enjoy!!

Citizenship FoundationFirst Floor, 50 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RTtel: +44 (0) 20 7566 4141 fax: +44 (0) 20 7566 4131www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk