ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on issues-centered learning, decision making, values, and character education as a means to meet the "good citizen" requirement associated with middle and high school social studies. Issues-centered learning is one approach that secondary teachers should consider when addressing the "good citizen" objective because it forces students to actively engage and discuss controversial issues that are important in society. Inquiry learning is focused on the process in which one builds and constructs knowledge. Moral reasoning proposes that students' reasoning becomes less self-centered and more attuned to the well-being of society as they age and mature. Values clarification is a method that encourages students to formulate their own values through thoughtful analysis and reflection. Analyzing public issues is a pedagogical method that focuses on the discussion processes by examining public issues that are often controversial because of the varying value systems present in a multicultural, pluralistic society.
