DEVELOPING CIVIC COMPETENCES: A TREASURE HUNT THROUGHOUT THE CURRICULUM

Abstract

In this article, we will show how the development of the civic competences called forth by European Citizenship, can be achieved at school through all the various subject-matters of the curriculum and does not belong exclusively to ‘civic education’. Because subject-matters are not identified in the same way across the Member States, we have chosen to regroup them under generic headings: ‘scientific’, ‘linguistic and cultural’, ‘artistic’ and ‘conceptual’.
This paper is not an attempt at showing that some sections of the curriculum are better adapted than others to the development of an autonomous critical mind; it is a rambling quest across the curriculum to bring to light the wonderful opportunities for opening the minds of our students and for honing their judgement, whatever subject we may teach.