Senior Secondary School Civic Education

WHAT IS CIVIC EDUCATION?

Civic education is the study of the theoretical, political and practical aspects of citizenship, as well as its rights and duties. Also according to Finkel Civic education is refers “to both formal and informal training given to the citizens to develop in them the knowledge, values and skills needed for effective participation in the political process and the civil society”.

WHY IS CIVIC EDUCATION?

Civic education empowers us to be well-informed, active citizens and gives us the opportunity to change the world around us. It is a vital part of any democracy, and equips ordinary people with knowledge about our democracy and our Constitution.

OBJECTIVE OF CIVIC EDUCATION

The main goals of civic education are:

1.To teaching culture of peace.

2.To education tolerance among the people.

3.To develop intersectoral social partnerships.

4.To teach and manage self-governance associations among the citizens.

TYPES OF CIVIC EDUCATION

These types include:

1.a liberal conception,

2.a state based conception,

3.a cosmopolitan conception, and

4.a social justice one.

THE BRANCHES OF CIVICS

They learn about the following key principles: limited government (checks and balances), government by the people, separation of powers among the three branches of government (legislative, executive and judicial), judicial review, and federalism.

COMPONENTS OF CIVIC EDUCATION

1.Nationality.

2.Right and duties.

3.Democratic practices.

4.Community values.

The role of civic education in society

Civic education empowers us to be well-informed, active citizens and gives us the opportunity to change the world around us. It is a vital part of any democracy, and equips ordinary people with knowledge about our democracy and our Constitution.

CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES

Civic responsibilities comprised of actions and attitudes associated with democratic governance and social participation, civic responsibility can include participation in government, church, volunteers and memberships of voluntary associations. However, *Civic Responsibility* is defined as the "responsibility of a citizen".

Civic Values:

Civic Values are the values we learn to respect as citizens, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the Preamble to the Constitution. All people are created equal. We're endowed with inalienable rights-life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

What is intrinsic value in civic education?

Intrinsic Value: Something has intrinsic value when it is good or desirable for its own sake and in itself. For example, good music, beautiful flowers, particular dress, type of handset, type of house and other value giving satisfaction to the beholder.

Types of Human Values

1.Individualistic Values. The most inherent value of a person is individualistic which means valuing the self over anything else in the world.

2.Family Values.

3.Professional Values.

4.National Values.

5.Moral Values.

6.Spiritual Values.

7.The Conflict of Values.

IMPORTANCE OF CIVICS

Civics is the study of the rights and duties of citizenship. Also the duties of citizens to each other as members of a political body and to the government, why we should study it? It is important that we study it because it helps people understand how government works.

CIVIC DUTIES
Civic duty or civic responsibilities required by law include serving on a jury and paying taxes. Other examples of civic duty include: Registering with the Selective Service, obeying the law among others.

1.Paying Taxes: tax payment is a vital duty of all citizens. Because it make the citizen felt the impact of nation building through tax. Some of the taxes are Income taxes, Payroll taxes, Sales taxes, Property taxes, Real estate taxes, Excise taxes, and Value Added Tax (VAT)

2.Support and defend the Constitution.

3.Stay informed of the issues affecting your community.

4.Participate in the democratic process.

5.Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws.

6.Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others.

7.Participate in your local community.