Paper: Curriculum and Role of Youth as Co-designers
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Added on 2020-03-16
Paper: Curriculum and Role of Youth as Co-designers
Added on 2020-03-16
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YOUNG PEOPLE AS CO-DESIGNERS OF SCHOOL-BASED CIVICS CURRICULUM1NameInstitutionTutorCourseDate of submissionYOUNG PEOPLE AS CO-DESIGNERS OF SCHOOL-BASED CIVICS CURRICULUMIntroductionHigh levels of hate crime, intolerance, and prejudice, support of extremism, distrust of politiciansand low voter turnouts especially among the youths have been observed in many countriesworldwide. This threatens the legitimate goals of democracy which are unity and patriotism. Thisis because of production poor inactive and unengaged citizens. These goals, however, must bebalanced with the realization and tolerance of diversity in the society. These goals of democracycan only be achieved through an inclusive, active formal education (Smith et al., p. 4). Theyouths should, therefore, be co-designers of school-based civics curriculum to contribute theirideas. This paper discusses the importance of an inclusive curriculum and the role of youth as co-designers of the civic curriculum in preparing them to be active citizens of the future. Significance of co-designing a civics curriculumThe issue of crisis democracy presents young people as the real problem who engages in violentactivities. They have been displayed as a disengaged, an apolitical, and apathetic group. Their
YOUNG PEOPLE AS CO-DESIGNERS OF SCHOOL-BASED CIVICS CURRICULUM2behavior has been somehow attributed to deficiencies in various institutions that are supposed tooffer civic education (Bessant et al., 279). It becomes important, therefore, to engage the youngpeople in designing a civic-oriented curriculum so that they can give out their views and henceshape them to be a better generation. The fact that the young people are politically disengagedshows that there is a need for more civic education. Educating them, however, does not play acritical role in their lives that’s why involving them in designing of the civic curriculum is thebest approach. Co-designing the curriculum gives the students a chance to improve the politicalarena (Chou et al., p. 5). Coordinating the digital media and civic engagement with youths iscrucial. Young people spend a lot of time in social media as such they have a lot of informationconcerning politics and civics. Social media and the internet has revolutionized the worldimmensely. With youths spending much of their time on the internet, they are at a better-placedposition to identifying upcoming and trending issues concerning democracy and politics(Youniss et al., p. 132). Involvement of youths in the process of civic education enhances thedecision-making process which determines how people should conduct themselves politically.The current 21st-century politics have significantly changed and, therefore, requires differentcontributions from various social groups. Politics have become highly interactive, and that makesthe young people ideal in co-designing of the civic curriculum. The politics also are peer-based,and the youths are the most vocal group and the unruly ones. Giving their views on matters thataffect them politically becomes crucial to be integrated into the curriculum (Manning andEdwards, p. 29). Despite the fact that the internet has mitigated the power disparities such associal status, resource, experience, and power, the youthful activist politics, are not devoid ofpower and produces highly gendered space.
YOUNG PEOPLE AS CO-DESIGNERS OF SCHOOL-BASED CIVICS CURRICULUM3Politics as usual modelThe concept of politics as a usual model has received critique from various social and politicalfields throughout the entire Europe. It aims at achieving a political consensus on the core neo-liberal project. It could lead to an expansion of the free market while causing the state to shrink.The young people, however, were the most vocal class to reject the consensus. Numerouspolicies such as the neo-liberal and conventional electoral policies had failed before. It wascrucial, therefore, to commit the young people in social participation by creating a neo-liberalactive citizenship framework. Young people as such, have the capability of restructuring thecivic education to the betterment of everyone (Bennett et al., p. 111). Through digital networkuse, they can establish new approaches encompassing politics re-imagining, politicalimaginaries, and political action-oriented new norms which can create a free non-hierarchicalinteraction. Typically, it is thought that the older people can be the best designers of the civiccurriculum due to their experience. As such, they can represent the young people in the politicalfield and deploy the skills and knowledge necessary for young people to become active citizens.Contrary to this, the young people have a huge role to play in designing of the civic curriculumsince they are so active and vocal concerning emerging issues and politics. Civic education isimportant since it helps the youth and students to understand the concepts of democracy,advocacy, human rights, and the rule of law.Young people as a source of democratic innovationIt’s important for the society to start viewing young people as equals in matters related to civiceducation rather than perceiving them as inexperienced individuals. Young people thorough theirskills and innovation can improve the democracy of a country. Therefore, they stand best to be
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