ABSTRACT
The aim of education within any society would be the development of those qualities which enable people to contribute actively to the community in which they live. Hence, following the Crick report in 1998, Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools, citizenship became a required ‘curriculum theme’ in all schools in England and Wales. This paper spells out what such a theme requires – political literacy, concern for the good of society, and the ability and tendency to be active in the pursuit of this. The difficulties, however, are exemplified through the examples of Eric Midwinter’s and Chris Searle’s practical engagement with disadvantaged young people in the neighbourhoods of their schools. The relevance of Kohlberg’s ‘Just Community School’ and of John Dewey’s ‘Community School’ provide examples.
