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The past three years have witnessed a dramatic revitalization of civics education for use in Australian schools. In this brief period, Australian educators have participated in a major national inquiry into civics education, initiated a national curriculum materials project, commenced research to create a substantive teacher knowledge base, developed centers of civics education, and constructed programs for teacher preparation. While this revitalization is not yet well grounded in Australian schools, the situation should change dramatically in the very near future.
These developments in Australia should be seen as part of a renewed worldwide interest in civics education. The disintegration of the former communist bloc in Eastern Europe has stimulated the need for citizenship education within new democratic contexts. Domestic problems within many Asian and African nations have also highlighted issues of citizenship and spurred renev.wal of civics education. Meanwhile, successful democracies such as the United States, Canada, Britain and Australia are reflecting upon the nature of citizenship and the role of civics education within the new world order. As people in these countries seek to answer the question, What does it mean to be an American? a Canadian? an Australian?, fundamental issues of civics education are coming to the forefront.
The New Civics Education
Despite its recency, the new civics education in Australia has already taken a clearly definable shape. It is broader and more comprehensive than earlier efforts. While knowledge of government, the constitution, citizen rights, civic responsibility, and Australian political history remain pivotal components, they are only a part of the total learning in which students will partcipate.
A central plank of the new civics education is learning about environmental issues and the need for ecological sustainability. Australia's, and the world's, fragile environment poses many problems and requires protection by an informed and active populace. All Australians, and particularly the young, need to address these issues both locally and globally. To become effective citizens of their democracy, Australians need to be informed and critically active participants. Currently, little opportunity exists for young Australians to learn to be participating citizens through the school curriculum. Yet Australian society expects all adult citizens to fulfill their civic duties, and voting is compulsory.
In learning the role of citizen, Australian students need to look beyond the...