The Faults in Our Stars? An Analysis of State Patriotism Statutes

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 18
  In Roundtable Session: Enacting Social Studies Education

Abstract

State statutes require students to engage in patriotic exercises and to learn the concept of patriotism. Through emphasis on ceremonial exercises, requirement of specific document study, framing of patriotism as a character trait, and language regarding civic engagement, state statutes promote various conceptualizations of patriotism. Rarely fitting into a dichotomic framework of either authoritarian or democratic patriotism (Westheimer, 2006), statues emphasize varying levels of maintenance of status quo or acknowledgement of societal flaws. Identified were four patriotism statute categories related to the degree to which they acknowledge societal flaws: active maintenance of status quo statutes; ceremonial maintenance of status quo statutes; shallow critique statutes; and deep critique statutes. Implications for educators are discussed.

Author

• Benjamin R Wellenreiter, Illinois State University