Before this week, my interpretation of citizenship was cut and dry. Citizenship is the place you live and that was that. This week’s readings and lecture opened my eyes to how privileged and basic my understanding was. Citizenship has deep layers that, like many things in Canada, are deeply rooted in oppression.
Joel Westheimer explains at one point that critical thinking has taken a hit since 9/11. He talks about how this has affected citizenship and has decreased the amount of participatory citizens. Mike Cappello also spoke on this issue. Cappello goes on to say that the education system produces personally-responsible citizens. He goes on to explain that in order to produce justice-oriented citizens or participatory citizens, changes are needed.
We can relate Treaty Education to what Mike and Joel are saying through Mike’s podcast. Mike explains that participatory citizens is rooted deeply in settler colonialism. The only way to create critical thinking citizens and citizens who do more is to include Treaty Education and Anti-Bias education. “More of the same criminally underprepared the electorate to understand and change the world they are in” (Cappello, 2018). If we continue on this path, we are continuing on the path of oppression and colonialism.
Hello Laina,
I too had a simple understanding of citizenship before this week. I appreciate you saying this because it lets everyone know change and critical thought are necessary. I do think many things are of oppressive nature as well in Canada. Do you think there is anything we can do to change that? This is a very well-written post that is concise and to the point of our readings this week.
Thank you for your post!
I can agree that citizenship is not something I have thought deeply about before. After this weeks readings how might you teach “citizenship” to your students? Your post was really well written!
Thank you!
It’s good you are unpacking how definitions of citizenship can be harmful! How would you approach critical thinking and participatory citizenship while avoiding the colonial bases of it? You tied the videos well to the topic!
Hello Laina, I agree with your comment that by including Treaty Education and Anti-Bias Education we will create critically thinking citizens. How do you personally engage with citizenship? I also had a limited perspective of what being a citizen meant, and this weeks podcasts and lectures have expanded that.