Resolving the Citizenship Education Dilemma by Involving Marginalized Youth in Civic Engagement

• In Event: The Citizenship Education Dilemma: Implications for Civic Education Reform in Multicultural Nations

Abstract

Urban marginalized youth (young people of color between the ages of 14 and 21) have a great deal to say about community, respect, and citizenship. Yet researchers have often failed to study and describe their authentic voices. This paper describes an empirical study of marginalized ethnic minority youth in a large Western city that was designed to enable the investigator to listen carefully to young people’s perspectives on citizenship and civic engagement. The investigator used interviews, observations, and focus groups to reveal the students’ conceptions of citizenship and the ways in which they participated in civic engagement. The investigator found that these youth were actively engaged in civic activities in their communities if the conception of civic engagement is broadened beyond traditional conceptions of citizenship such as voting in state and national election to include involvement in activities to empower their local communities.
The findings of this study helps to correct misunderstandings and confusions that was reflected in earlier research about marginalized youth and civic engagement, and discusses ongoing efforts by other researchers to develop accurate and nuanced perceptions of urban youth and community involvement. Previous conceptions of civic practice largely ignored marginalized youth’s efforts at community maintenance and democratic solidarity. The findings of this study indicate that students will become involve in civic activities when civic engagement projects deal with issues that will improve their daily lives. The study suggests that the citizenship education dilemma can be reduced when students are provided opportunities to participate in civic activities that have deep and personal meanings for them.

Author

• Konstantine Kyriacopoulos, University of North Carolina - Wilmington