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PHIL-157 CBL: Civic Engagement and Public Education

PHIL-157 CBL: Civic Engagement and Public Education
Fall only
Faculty:
  • Voke, Heather
    • PHIL/AMST 157 CBL 4 credits: Civic Engagement and Education

    This course combines reflection and action. In addition to the twice-weekly meetings on campus, students will be expected to invest significant additional time working with high school students at a low-performing public school located in Southeast D.C. The school serves a student population that is 100% African American and predominately from low-income families. GU students will travel to the high school two times a week to lead a group of students as they all work together to identify and address a community-based problem.

    Georgetown and the high school students will plan and carry out a public event at which they will share the work they have done during the semester. Students should expect to commit roughly 6-8 hours per week traveling to and from the school and working with the high school students. The GU and high school students will also plan and carry out a public event at which they will share their work with the community. In addition to the work at the high school and the conference, the course will include several other out-of-the classroom responsibilities such as hosting a visit by the high school students to the GU campus and planning with GU classmates for the meetings with the high school students.

    These community-based experiences will be supplemented by readings, class discussions, and blog writing assignments. We will study the role of schooling in preparing and enabling (or failing to prepare and enable) youth to have a voice in their schools and communities. We will focus specifically on the relationships between democracy and schooling; the kinds of knowledge, skills, and character traits needed to be effective in working toward social change through community action; the conditions that must be provided if students are to become active participants in democratic life; and the role of the hidden curriculum in denying students from particular demographic backgrounds access to the kind of learning experiences that enable effective civic and academic engagement. The focus will be primarily on schools and students in Washington, D.C. public schools. All GU students enrolled in the course are expected to take a very active role in the conduct of the course itself and in the work within the high school. However, this course does not require any previous experience working with youth or in schools.

    While the course is very demanding in several senses, students who enroll report that it is also an incredibly valuable learning experience unlike anything they have experienced through their other, campus-based coursework.
    Credits: 4
    Prerequisites: None
    Other academic years
    There is information about this course number in other academic years:
    More information
    Look for this course in the schedule of classes.

    The academic department web site for this program may provide other details about this course.
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