Why is Citizenship Important?
I think that this video would make a good introductory clip to Citizenship Studies. While the clip and the subsequent text is taken from a Sociological website, I feel this clip could also be used on a GCSE options evening. I feel the clip would invoke young people and their parents to ask subject teachers questions about what Citizenship Studies involves, and why it is important to them now, and throughout the rest of their lives. Ihave taken the following text straight off the website, minimally adapting the text.
'Take a moment to think about the car journey you may have taken to school this morning. Along the way you might have been listening to your iPod, chatted on your mobile phone or maybe chatted to the person driving the car. I imagine that not once on that journey did you consider the vehicle you were riding in. Have you ever thought about how a car works especially its engine?
Have you ever lifted the bonnet looked at the engine and wondered what went on inside the engine? Or do you just assume that because it works then there’s no need to understand how it works or consider ways of improving it.
Watch the clip to see how an engine works. While you do take a moment to think if you know how society works.'
Have you ever lifted the bonnet looked at the engine and wondered what went on inside the engine? Or do you just assume that because it works then there’s no need to understand how it works or consider ways of improving it.
Watch the clip to see how an engine works. While you do take a moment to think if you know how society works.'
Sociology at Twynham (no date)
Youtube (2007)
'Society is very similar to the way a car engine works. It’s extremely complicated with lots of moving components. Whereas an engine has pistons, values, push-rods etc to help it function, society has schools, the family, criminal justice system, healthcare etc to help it work. When the engine needs improving or breaks-down a mechanic takes the engine apart. Such a process is analogous to the way Citizenship examines society to see if things can be improved. And in the same way mechanics use tools to take an engine apart,Citisenship pupils use concepts (ideas) to take society ‘apart’ so they can examine it in more detail to suggest ways of fixing society. Sometimes governments use these ideas to create social policies which are designed to remedy things.'
Sociology at Twynham (no date)