Book Review                                      Online Exclusive

Making Civics Count

Citizenship Education for a New Generation

by David E. Campbell, Meira Levinson and Frederick M. Hess, Harvard Education Press, Cambridge, Mass., 2012, 257 pp., $29.95 softcover

Making Civics Count; Citizenship Education for a New Generation broaches an issue that many educators and political figures grapple with. Authors David Campbell, Meira Levinson and Rick Hess have edited an informative compilation of writing on what is known and not known about civic education.

The writing focuses on building a civic education curriculum, examining the role of the community and community activities that foster meaning within youth, using schools as community resources, modeling various programs that enrich civic education, preparing tomorrow’s teachers to care about civics and what is taught and providing quality professional development for current classroom teachers. One piece looks at the impact of digital media, such as Facebook, has on youth.

In looking at public, private and charter schools, the book doesn’t try to compare what they’re doing regarding civics education, but examines why one approach works more successfully than another.

Making Civics Count; Citizenship Education for a New Generation is a sensational resource, if only to start conversation, on what is needed to build authentic and exciting opportunities for students to become hands-on learners of political affairs and to grasp the importance of active civic participation. It is a captivating read for anyone passionate about improving citizenship in our country.

Reviewed by Priscilla A. Boerger, assistant professor of education, Lynn University, Boca Raton, Fla.