Sunday, 30 April 2017

Marrio hall

Jamaicans Welcome Re-Introduction of Civics


Sunday, 23 April 2017

Impact of Community Service on Citizenship Education
            Community Service is a word that many of us hear very often. However, some of us frown upon the word as we do not believe in engaging in voluntary service. Community service can be defined as “services volunteered by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its institutions” (Online Free Dictionary). In other words, community service can be understood to mean the rendering of service by choice or free will for the benefit of the wider community by an individual, group, or institution without necessarily expecting monetary gain in full knowledge and appreciation of being a volunteer. In the spirit of learning about citizenship education, I came to the realization that community service has an impact on citizenship education. It is a real shocker to me that I didn’t make the connection sooner or maybe it is case where I sub-consciously knew.
            Citizenship Education can be defined as educating children, from early childhood, to become clear-thinking­ and enlightened citizens who participate in decisions concerning society.
A knowledge of the nation’s institutions, and also awareness that the rule of law applies to social and human relationships, obviously form part of citizenship education course. (UNESCO, 2010). The new thrust of the Ministry of Education, Youth and information will therefore see the Civics programme as process education that facilitates how we become, live and operate as citizens. It focuses on the process by which we come to an understanding of ourselves as human beings, as a collective occupying a given geographical space, and of the need to include everyone in an appreciation of certain core values. This will facilitate greater harmony, care and respect for each other, the land that we are blessed to occupy and the institutions that protect collective welfare. 
Community Service is viewed as a form of social capital, with particular reference to the role of volunteering in promoting social inclusion, assisting marginalized social groups, its relationship to other forms of civic participation and unpaid work, creating a civil society, social action, in community building and community renewal. The character of the cooperation of the sector with all kinds of other key social players such as government, business, communities and people as individuals has given the community service sector strong power to affect the society as a whole.
            Community Service promotes people to be more active in civic engagement and concerned of citizenship. Many voluntary organizations share information with local government and community to push forward community services including department of education, environment, and energy and so on. This illustrates the crosscutting nature of volunteering throughout and between the different sectors. Community Service increases people‘s confidence in ability to work with local government or state government to meet a range of community needs, such as fixing a pothole or getting an issue on a statewide ballot. People also feel more civic obligations, and are more active in participating in various civic activities, including voting in elections and serving on a jury.
           Through community service, individuals are given the opportunity to advance their citizenship education skills. So next time you are asked to complete community service do not frown because as small as your contribution is, it does make a difference.

Contributor: Samantha Dwyer
                        Bachelors Degree in Education
                        History and Social Studies
                        Bethlehem Moravian College
                             
                              
The Reintroduction of Civics Education to the Jamaican Curriculum, Why now?
I have always heard talks about Civics but honestly, I have never really understood what it was all about. However, having been exposed to the course Advanced Citizenship; I am now more knowledgeable on Civics Education. Based on research done, I have come to understand that Civics Education is learning about the Jamaican nation. The content covers many aspects which is inclusive of but not limited to the functioning of government, structure of social and political systems and rights and responsibilities as a Jamaican citizen. Civics Education aims to create well-thinking, informed and responsible citizens so that they can make worthwhile contributions to the country.
Civics Education has now been reintroduced to the Jamaican curriculum. Three reasons this re-introduction is justified are: students will learn about citizenship, through citizenship education, they will have a greater appreciation of self and others and students will also garner respect for Jamaica’s national symbols, national heroes and icons. With a combination of all three, students will develop cultural integrity, become worthwhile citizens and contribute to nation building. It is clearly evident that Civics Education is an essential subject area and with this new focus on it, it is being projected as such. One important question I want to ask is why is the re-introduction just happening now?
Citizenship education was once taught in Jamaican schools. It was however, pulled from the Jamaican school curriculum in the mid 1980s as it was believed the content of Civics overlapped with other subject areas. That is, the content of Civics was also taught in other subject areas; one such area was Social Studies. As a result of the overlapping, the decision was taken to remove Civics and have that time dedicated to the teaching of core subject areas.
‘The absence of Civics Education in schools is to blame for the country’s low morals, values and attitude as well as a lack of patriotism’. It is the belief of many older Jamaicans that if this younger generation were taught Civics, they would be better off in those areas. Those Jamaicans that have that belief can now breathe easier as citizenship education has been reintroduced into the Jamaican curriculum. The re-introduction was officially launched on August 17, 2012 at the Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St. Ann.
However, with all the benefits that Civics Education has to offer, it should have been reintroduced earlier. Is it that these benefits are only being seen now? Is it that core subject areas no longer needs that additional focus? Is it that there is no longer an overlapping of Civics and other subject areas such as Social Studies? Is it that this current generation needs Civics Education more than the one before? What is it?
Civics Education should have never been taken out of the curriculum in the first place. However, seen that it was; the Ministry of Education should not have taken such a long time to re-introduce it. In order to ensure that a similar mistake is not made in the future, the Ministry of Education should follow the footsteps of some developed countries and make it a law for Jamaican citizens to study and pass Civics Education. It is bad enough that the reintroduction is just happening. However, this is our country and if we do not value the importance of Civics Education, who will?

Contributor: Samantha Dwyer
                        Bachelors Degree in Education
                        History and Social Studies
                        Bethlehem Moravian College
                             
                              
Use of Garvey’s Philosophy in the new Civics Curriculum
HIGHLIGHTING MARCUS GARVEY
The placement of Marcus Garvey within the context of the New Civics Programme is designed to help students to understand themselves in the story of how Marcus Garvey rose from amongst the ranks of the economically disadvantaged, the politically disenfranchised, racially marginalized to impact Brand Jamaica by joining the ranks of the most noted philosophers, by influencing world leaders and the global artistic community. This is one way to establish the link between positive identity, academic excellence and productivity which anchors students in their possibilities.
Therefore, for selected themes, a relevant quotation of Marcus Garvey appears and becomes part of the text for that theme. The quote is to be used in the development of the lessons and activities exploring that topic. In this context, the teaching of Garvey builds on the approach of the grades 7-9 Social Studies component
                                                                        (Excerpt from the New Civics Curriculum)


            The Right Excellent Marcus Mosaih Garvey is a great man; that is a descriptor that no one can deny him of. He has made great strides both in Jamaica and across the world through his many ventures. He believed that black people can do great things; he believed wholeheartedly in the Black race. Consequently, he engaged in different activities to encourage us to achieve the greatness he believed we can achieve. As the excerpt says, Marcus Garvey faced a myriad of challenges throughout his life. He grew up facing financial constraints, he did not have the privilege of voting and he was a black man and as such he was not seen as being of much value in society. Garvey was born in 1887, a period of post emancipation. During this time the Jamaican people had life very difficult. Financial difficulty was the order of the day for many black Jamaicans as the country was filled with social ills. In that time period, you had to own land in order to be eligible to vote and with black people facing such severe hardships, they did not have money to acquire the amounts of land that was needed for them to have a say in the elections. Being black during that time was seen as a crime by the coloured and white people of society. Once you were black, the other members of society felt as if they were superior to you. Consequently you were seen as the scum of society and were looked down on. Imagine, a black man who faced so many hardships in life grew up to be an internationally recognised individual who had so much influence then and even today 76 years after his death.
            Garvey showed the world that it is not where you are from that defines who you will become or how much you can accomplish. In other words, your beginning does not determine your end. Despite the numerous hurdles one will face in life, it is possible for one to overcome and strive. Many Jamaican students face difficulties, some even face similar difficulties to what Garvey faced. By learning about Garvey, students will be able to relate to him and see that no matter how many hurdles they face in life, it is possible to not only overcome them but to also achieve greatness after overcoming them. By learning about Garvey, students will become motivated and will believe that like Garvey they can be well-accomplished. They will develop a positive attitude towards school and a drive to succeed as they will realise that since Garvey did it is not possible for them to also do it. This will also lead to them having pride in themselves as individuals and also as Jamaicans. Hence I believe that the approach to highlight Marcus Garvey in the New Civics Programme is a brilliant move. The life and work of Marcus Garvey has much to offer to students as it has the potential to positively impact them in enormous ways. Some might say that there are many other great Jamaicans, why choose Garvey? To that I would say, why not choose Marcus Garvey? I would also advice them to go and read upon the life and work of this great man and then re-evaluate the question asked. 

Contributor: Samantha Dwyer
                        Bachelors Degree in Education
                        History and Social Studies
                        Bethlehem Moravian College
                             
                              

Thursday, 20 April 2017

Civics Education Helps Alleviate Corruption

'The Fight Against Corruption Begins With You'

Student representatives of 26 secondary schools islandwide last Friday engaged in activities in celebration of International Anti-Corruption Day.
The Office of the Contractor General (OCG), hosted a youth symposium under the theme: 'The Fight against Corruption Begins with You'.
Students were given a chance to directly quiz panellists on corruption-related issues facing the country at the event held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.

Panel Members

Members of the panel were Dirk Harrison, contractor general; Paula Llewellyn, director of public prosecution (DPP); Imani Duncan-Price, former senator; Omar Hawthorne, lecturer and Diahann Gordon Harrison, children's advocate.
Some student participants cited the failure of the government to curb the widespread practice of corruption.
"Public education is critical. Reintroduce civics and teach from a tender age what it means to be a good citizen", Llewellyn told The Gleaner as potential steps towards eradicating corruption.
She further added: "I think a programme like this is excellent. The youth are the future of the country, so it's in their minds that we have to plant the seed, water it and make the concept of transparency and honesty fundamental. Take this initiative islandwide and marry it to the teaching of civics."
Dean of Discipline of St Mary Technical along with Harrison placed the popular 'Informa fi dead', culture to the sword. The dean said to thunderous applause that it's quite the opposite and 'Informa fi live'.

This article stresses the point that the nurturing of a child starts how they were brought up and trained. With the school being an agent of socialization and the place where students learns the necessary skills for development it is necessary that proper values and attitudes be taught to students. Students should see the importance of being positive role models to society and be one who emulates good moral attitudes. Hence with civics education all that is necessary for a child growth and development is taught to children.
Contributor:  Renae Simpson

Saturday, 8 April 2017

The New Civics Curriculum and Programme

New national curriculum for 2016/17 school year



WORK is far advanced to establish the new National Standards Curriculum for the grades one to nine levels which is to come into operation for the beginning of the 2016/17 school year.
The goal of the new curriculum is to improve the general academic performance, attitude and behaviour of students, which is expected to redound to the positive shaping of the national social and economic fabric.
Under the new system, emphasis will be placed on project-based and problem-solving learning, with science, technology, engineering and mathematics/ science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEM/STEAM) integrated at all levels.
The approaches will allow the learners to have hands-on experiences that are similar to real-world situations, making the learning experience less abstract and more concrete.

Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean said a team from the ministry will soon be undertaking stakeholder consultations.
“The development of this curriculum started about three years ago and we have already engaged a number of our teachers. We have a pilot that is currently going on with 49 schools; a pilot went on with 12 schools last year,” she said.
The new curriculum, she said, will allow students to utilise their own talents, and experiences in the learning process, while facilitating the increase use of information and communication technologies. (ICT)
In addition, civics will return to be a discrete discipline, while technical and vocational education and training (TVET) and Spanish will be formally introduced at the primary level.
Also, subject areas such as geography and history will be separated from social studies and will be offered separately, starting at Grade 7.
Chemistry, biology and physics have been separated from integrated sciences and will be offered separately at Grade 9.
The changes are aimed at ensuring that the requisite foundation for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) in the disciplines is laid during the lower secondary years.
“We are actively engaged in our tertiary institutions, because their curriculum will need to be changed as well,” Dr McLean said, while pointing out that “our officers have gone on study tours to other countries so that they can have the kind of content on best practices to inform the development”.
She further stressed that a lot is being placed on training in order to make the new system “sustainable [and] embedded in practice within the institutions, so that our students can develop the skills that we expect them to have as they move into adulthood”.
— JIS


This article speaks to Unit 2 of the Advanced Citizenship Education outline. It highlights the point that with the new civics curriculum civics will be taught as a discrete subject, over the years Social Studies has served as an integrated subject which highlights some aspects of Civics, History and Geography. However much emphasis was not placed on civics as a discipline hence the reason for the new civics curriculum. Civics is a critical subject to a child's development and as such much emphasis should be placed in regards to civics in a bid to produce worthwhile citizens of society.

Contributor: Renae Simpson

Importance of Civics


Jamaica Needs Civics To Rescue Heritage From Technology 
As the country continues to reflect on its heritage and the achievements of its national heroes, the president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, Everton Hannam, has called for a greater level of urgency in teaching civics in schools.
Hannam argued that with advances in technology, young people are having less appreciation for Jamaica's heritage.
"The influence of technology and overexposure to foreign cultures continue to pervade our society, so the need for civics is even more important so as to help our children better appreciate our heritage," Hannam said.
"Every year, it seems more like a ritual when this time comes around (National Heroes Day), especially for the younger generation, and so the pace at which we are moving to implement it (civics) is of some concern because this has resulted in a disconnect in a number of areas."
Hannam also suggested that there be a collaborative approach towards implementing the programme.
GENERATION GAP
"There is a difference between the older generation and the younger generation. Back in the day, the emphasis on our culture was much greater. Whether it's in the schools, through music, or other art forms, it is imperative that our youth understand the significance of our past," he said.
"It is important to note as well that the programme has to be part of a greater effort and must take a multifaceted approach. We must look at ethics, attitudes, values, among other factors, but there must be an aggressive programme, which will also aid in correcting some of the ills in society," he charged.
This article speaks to Unit 1 of Advanced Citizenship outline where it highlights the advantages of citizenship education. The article stresses that civics is a tool in helping our children appreciating our culture. With the technology era we are currently in children spend enormous time exploring various modes of technology than they take to explore their culture. However technology at hand is not overly an deterrent to lack of cultural appreciation because children can also use these various modes of technology to explore and know more about their culture. With civics being taught along with application of technology children will be more culturally aware citizens who portraits good moral values.
Contributor: Renae Simpson