Teachers Colleges of Jamaica

Church Teachers College

Mandeville Jamaica

NAME: Tevin Cameron

ID# CH20128715
AREA OF SPECIALIZATION: Social Studies/History
LECTURER: Mr. Patrick Smith
DATE: March 3, 2016

Title Page
What are the major issues impacting the Jamaican society? How can citizenship education
address any of these two?

According to Citizenship or the 21st century citizenship education is defined as

educating children, from early childhood, to become clear-thinking and enlightened citizens
who participate in decisions concerning society. Society is here understood in the special sense
of a nation with a circumscribed territory which is recognized as a state. Therefore citizenship
education is basically about teaching or educating people about taking responsibility about things
that is happening in their lifes and also their community. There are issues and trends that
influence citizenship education
Socialization is defined according to the Merriam Webster dictionary as The process by
which a human being beginning at infancy acquires the habits, beliefs, and accumulated
knowledge of society through education and training for adult status. According to the
encyclopaedia Britannica socialization is basically the process where individuals learn how to
adjust themselves within a group. Socialization in citizenship education allows us to look at
political socialization and participation. As a citizen we must politically participate within our
country, which is done through socialization. People socialize through family, schools, peer
groups and mass media. Socialization is an issue that influences citizenship education where we
must socialize in order to function in a society. As a citizen socializing through participation such
as voting and attending political meetings. Political socialization is a lifelong process where one
has to analyse and acquire that political value.
Example of socialization as an issue that influences citizenship education is where the
family/ parents talks politics with their child or children. Whatever the parents tells their children
about polities they at times treasure it. Therefore family tradition is created as it relates to
politics. The family is a strong power of socialization where they have influence their child/
children from a young age. Another example is in the schools where students/children are

introduced to elections where they vote and choose a class president or class monitor. Here they
are exercising a democratic society and also socializing and participating.
Democracy is another issue that influences citizenship education. Citizenship education
provides a plat form for students as citizen or individual in the classroom to practice democratic
rights and responsibilities. Citizenship education helps to promote and improve the quality of
active participation in the democratic process. Keeter (1996 as cited as Kahne 2007). The
teaching of democracy in citizenship education will help to instil values and justice alone with
respect and trust. Democracy allows students to have a voice and a say in the affairs of the
society. In democratic society citizens have a say in the affairs of the country such as in the
voting process. They are able to vote for persons they see fit to lead in their country. Democracy
in schools shows students how a democratic system works by involving them in decision
makings that affects what students learn. Jamaica is a democracy where we have a say in how
our country is being run. Citizens must be educated on democracy through citizenship education
where one must have the knowledge and the democratic process. Therefore citizenship
education provides citizens with informing knowledge to allow citizens to know that they have a
voice and equal rights and appreciate their rights in a democratic society.
Globalization is a prominent issue that influence citizenship education. Globalization is
defined according to the Oxford dictionary (2000) as the process by which businesses or other
organizations develop international influence or startoperating on an international scale. The
teaching of citizenship education will allow students to be more aware of what globalization is
and how it can interfere with our culture. Globalization brings forth different cultures where
cultures are exchanged. With cultures being exchanged and mixed, this results in a loss of
cultures and traditions as a result of mixtures of cultures. Therefore Globalization helps to

discredit ones culture helping persons to stray away from being patriotic to their nation or
country of origin.
Teaching globalization as an issue in citizenship education will develop knowledge and
the ability to engage in beneficially and positivity across the difference cultures that exist. Every
country has its own unique resources and what one country do not have or lacks they can find in
another country. In Jamaica and other countries we exchange resources that we do not have.
Globalization has brought benefits to countries such as communication, world peace, and the
opportunity for businesses to expand and growth among others. As a result of globalization
Jamaica has improve tremendously where it is evident in telecommunication, technology,
electronic commerce etc. Globalization has some negative issues which impact our culture where
it has encourage in the spreading of fast food or junk foods, such as McDonald, KFC and Burger
King. Our people are consuming so much junk food which has an impact on our health. Here we
can safely say globalization is both a good and a bad thing where it can indeed be a cause in the
changing of cultures.
Migration is an issue that influences citizenship education where it affects aspects of the
world. Many persons move from developing countries to developed country to improve their
standard of living. This can at times result in migrants being exploited as a result of them have to
be working under conditions that violate human rights. When persons migrate they do contribute
to the economic development of both the host country and the country that they are coming from.
Migrate faces many challenges in the host country such as violence, racism, discrimination etc.
According to High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay The protection of migrants is
an urgent and growing human rights challenge. Governments have obligations to ensure that
xenophobic violence, racism and related intolerance against migrants and their communities have

no place in their societies. Some of the human right violations against migrants are the denial
of economic rights, access to social rights and also the right to health and education. Migration
influences citizenship education where it teaches us humans to be move welcoming to persons
who might not be a citizen of ones country. Students will understand not to marginalised and
disadvantage persons who are migrants. They are to be welcomed into all aspect of the society
and be provided with the relevant resources just as much as a native of that country. Therefore a
human rights approach is needed to see that migrates are properly treated in the host country.
Teaching migration in citizenship education will guide students to be more tolerant to persons
who are immigrants in their country. It will also allow student to be more empathic and put their
selves into the shoes of immigrants. Immigrants migrate to better their standard of living where
they still have to pay tax or contribute to the economy on the host country. Therefore they should
be treated as equals and not be discriminated against.
Crime and violence is an issue that influences citizenship education. As a citizen it is your
duty to learn about the nature of crime and violence in your country. In Jamaica crime and
violence has been an issue for over a decade where there are many causes of the issue. High
unemployment among youth is one of the causes of crime and violence in Jamaica. Jamaica lacks
resources to provide employment for its citizens. Therefore persons are going to find any way
possible to make ends meet, to support themselves and their families such as stealing, killing etc.
If persons you are not employed, where are they going to get food, safety, clothing and shelter
from. This gives rise to crime and violence and poverty.
Teaching crime and violence through citizenship education will definitely help students/
children to better understand why crime and violence is important to be learnt. It is a serious
problem that can destroy a country social, economic, spiritual and political development.

Students will better understand how to function in a society when they understand the nature of
crime and violence. They can also teach others about crime and violence and how we as a
country can alleviate the problem.
Citizenship education teaches students about their culture and their roots. It helps
students to value and cherish their unique culture by preserving it and not adapting others
culture. Ones culture is important where it gives them a sense of belonging and identity.
Therefore teaching students culture through citizenship education will help them to be a good
citizen and appreciative.
In concluding citizenship education is indeed an important course that should be taught in
every school. It basically shows us as citizens our right and responsibilities as a citizen of a
country. Citizenship as a subject or a course will definitely motivate and educated our students
for them to be good citizens and participate in the affairs of their country. With the teaching of
citizenship education students can use the knowledge that they have and educate their families
and relative keeping them inform about what it is all about. There are many issues and trends that
influence citizenship education that should be examine and persons should be knowledgeable
about these issues and trends.

Reference
Galston, W. A. (2003). Civic education and political participation. Phi Delta Kappan
Kahne, J., & Westheimer, J. (2003). Teaching Democracy: What Schools Need To Do. Phi Delta
Kappan
Stevenson, A. (2010). Oxford dictionary of English. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Westheimer, J., & Kahne, J. (2004b). Educating the Good Citizen: Political Choices and
Pedagogical Goals. Political Science & Politics, 37(2), 241-247