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Civic Education Programmes: It is arguable that the effect of this difference lies not so much in the overt 'content' of RE syllabuses on the one hand or civic education programmes on the other, but rather more in the implicit values which the two channels mediate: the one emphasising the moral development and spiritual awareness of each individual child, the other stressing the rights and duties of 'the citizen', whoever, whatever, wherever they may be.
In the late 1950's, after the launching of Sputnik I, public attention in the United States shifted to the natural sciences, mathematics, and to the promotion of competence in foreign languages. The National Defense Education Act contributed millions of dollars to the development of curricular areas that had minimal responsibilities in civic education. A decade later, however, with a new generation reacting violently against numerous conditions at home and abroad, national concern began to focus once again on the social studies and civic education.
Experimental Programs. Experiments in citizenship education marked the decade following World War II. These studies attempted to explore new approaches and helped chart die means toward increasingly effective civic education.
Many examples of such experimental programs were reported in a survey published in 1967 by the National Council for the Social Studies. The survey concluded that three major needs must be met by the schools in the field of civic education: (1) They must create an informed citizenry; (2) develop an analytical citizenry; and (3) promote a committed and involved citizenry.
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