Chapter 1: Democratic Ideals: Implications for Social Studies Curricula

This chapter sets the context for the Issues-Centered Decision Making Curriculum presented in this book. With deep and consistent commitment to democratic principles, this curriculum has the potential to create stronger citizens for a strong democracy. It emphasizes the values of social justice that democracy entails. Fairness equity, equality, freedom and justice need stronger application if minorities and other marginal peoples are to receive all the benefits that this democracy claims to embrace. Self-governance is the bedrock of this democracy. It fails if its citizens do not participate. Currently, it shows signs of weakness when judged by the numbers who vote (only a minority actually cast ballots) or the numbers of people who do not have equal opportunity or by the obstacles that face far too many of our citizens. Self-governance is an imperative; citizens who are uninformed, who lack complex thinking processes, who lack commitment to democracy and its social justice values as well as those who lack social and political abilities will spell its demise unless they receive stronger education for their role as citizens.