ABSTRACT
Not uncommonly we begin a session with trainee, or practising, teachers by asking them to brainstorm in answer to the questions, ‘What is citizenship?’, ‘What words come immediately to mind when you begin to think about the meaning of citizenship?’ Among the first words offered are usually some of the following: belonging, community, nationality, rights and responsibilities, attitudes and values, democracy, participation. If we then take these in turn, and perhaps attempt some categorization, the discussion may produce groups of words such as: belonging to a place, city, nation, group; contributing to a community, shared values, mutuality, culture; nationality, immigration control, residence rights, passport; rights, legal rights, human rights, equality; responsibilities, obligations, duties; attitudes and values, beliefs, morality, common good, tolerance; democracy, having the vote, subject or citizen; participation, taking part, contributing to society, volunteering, community service, active citizenship.
