Civic

Civic development is one of the three most consistent themes relating to the purpose of school. Click on the image below to find links to example mission statements that incorporate civic themes, keywords that schools use to indicate the importance of citizenship within their mission statement, links to organizations that focus on civic development, and links to assessments of citizenship.

Example Mission Statements

“To promote personal growth and leadership development through family and consumer sciences education. Focusing on the multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader, members develop the skills for life through: character development, creative and critical thinking, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and vocational preparation.”
– Trion High School
Trion, Georgia (Award Winning High School)

“The mission of Chapin High School of Lexington Richland School District Five, in partnership with the community, is to provide challenging curricula with high expectations for learning that develop productive citizens who can solve problems and contribute to a global society.”
-Chapin High School
Chapin, South Carolina (Award Winning School)

“The mission of Vestavia Hills High School, a collaborative learning community with a continuing tradition of excellence, is to cultivate responsible and compassionate shapers of society by fostering personal growth through community service, charter development, and a rigorous, varied curriculum.”
-Vestavia Hills High School
Vestavia Hills, Alabama (Award Winning School)

Example Key Words

In our empirical research (Stemler & Bebell, 2012; Stemler, Bebell, & Sonnabend, 2011), we have found that schools tend to use the following phrases in their mission statement when they are referring the civic development:

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS
Foster responsible citizenship.
Develop educated, caring, responsible world citizens
Develop in students a lifetime pattern of responsible citizenship
Develop students who are responsible, contributing members of their communities
Prepare students to become knowledgeable and reputable members of society

PRODUCTIVE CITIZENS
Develop employable citizens
Develop productive citizens in a multicultural, changing society
Prepare students to enter the workforce or pursue post-secondary education as civic-minded adults

LEADERSHIP
Develop global leaders
Develop responsible leaders for the 21st century

SERVICE AND RESPONSIBILITY
Promote social responsibility
Encourage community service
Instill a dedication to service

Organizations
Articles of Interest
Assessments