What Kind of Citizen?

Joel Westheimer is professor of the social foundations of education, former university research chair in democracy and education at the University of Ottawa, and the education columnist for CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning show. He is the editor of Pledging Allegiance: The Politics of Patriotism in America's Schools.

Contents (final)


Foreword Gloria Ladson-Billings  xi

Preface  xv


Introduction  1


1.  Changing the Narrative of School  5

The Script in Place  5

What Archeem Taught Me About Teaching  7


2.  No Child Left Thinking  11

Teaching Questioning—Essential for Schools in Democratic Societies  12

The Attack on Critical Thinking  14

Not Just Race, Any Contested Material  16


3.  No Teacher Left Teaching  21

Standardization: A Solution in Search of a Problem  22

Teacher Education in the Age of Standards and Accountability  26

De-Professionalization and the New Hypocrisy  27


4.  How Did This Happen?  31

What Gets Tested Gets Taught  32

The Test Scores That Ate Humanity  34

Reclaiming the Profession: Teacher Professionalism and Democratic Thinking  36


5.  What Kind of Citizen?  40

Three Kinds of Citizens  42

An Interlude for Reflection  46

The Many Faces of “Good” Citizenship  47


6.  Personally Responsible Citizens  50

Why Personal Responsibility Is Not Enough  50

Are Evaluations Asking the Wrong Questions?  53


7.  Participatory and Social Justice–Oriented Citizens  57

Participatory Citizens: The Madison County Youth Service League  59

Justice-Oriented Citizens: Bayside Students for Justice  64

The Importance of Recognizing Different Conceptions of Citizenship  71

The Influence of Community Context  74

Pursuing Dual Goals  75


8.  Thinking, Engaged Citizens  76

Connecting Learning to Social and Civic Goals  77

Scaling Up: Regional and National Programs  86

Scaling Down: Thinking About a Thinking Curriculum  87

Engaging with the Community  91


9.  Six Myths About Education  93

Myth 1. National Standards Ensure Quality Education  93

Myth 2. Dissent Should Be Medicated  94

Myth 3. The Only Way to Teach Democratic Thinking Is to Make the Entire School Democratic  96

Myth 4. When It Comes to Community-Based Experiences, Knowledge Must Always Precede Action (You Have to Know Stuff Before You Do Stuff)  99

Myth 5. Teachers Who Care About Whether Students Can Think for Themselves Don’t Care About Facts or Basic Skills  100

Myth 6. Community-Based Experiences Must Be Successful  101


10.  What Kind of School?  105

Acknowledgments  113

Notes  117

Index  131

About the Author  139