Citizenship Education: A Historical Perspective (1951–Present)

Abstract

Citizenship education and instruction have gone through a series of dramatic changes in the decades encompassing the early days of the Cold War up to our modern, globally focused educational environment. Throughout this progression, multiple influences, both internal and external to the educational construct, have shaped the role and direction of citizenship education. This article examines these changes and the historical context of these modifications—spanning the era from post–World War II America to post-9/11 classrooms. Through this historical review, it becomes apparent that there has been a shift in the timeliness of incorporation of new topics and themes of instruction over the last 50 years. Where it once took an extended period of time to incorporate new ideals of social change into curriculum and instruction, contemporary classrooms now have the ability to react to unfiltered current developments in an immediate fashion. In addition, it has become apparent that the new focus for much of today's citizenship education has a greater emphasis on global citizenship and interconnectedness of peoples around the world. These new areas of teaching and learning present new challenges and opportunities for effective citizenship education in today's classroom environment and serve as a reminder of how citizenship education continues to change to reflect current trends, issues, and instructional approaches.