With Liberty and Justice for All
2012 Great Lakes Conference Theme Strands
The 2012 Great Lakes Conference focuses on two of the major themes reflected in the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies. In addition to the two major themes of Civic Ideals and Practices and Global Connections, we encourage presentations generally on the use of technology to facilitate instruction and learning in the social studies.
Civic Ideals and Practices (Theme 10)
“An understanding of civic ideals and practices is a fundamental goal of education for citizenship in a democratic society, Civic ideals and practices have developed over centuries, and are found in societies throughout the world. Important documents that articulate civic ideals have served as milestones in the development of these ideals in different nations and worldwide. Basic freedoms and rights, and the institutions and practices that support shared democratic principles, are foundations of a democratic republic. In some instances, civic practices and their consequences are becoming more congruent with ideals, while in other cases, the gap is wide and calls for continued civic action by individuals and groups to sustain and improve the society. Learning how to apply civic ideals to inform civic action is essential to participation in a democracy and support for the common good.”
This Conference focuses specifically on 3 Civic Ideals and their practice:
Liberty: “Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women.” The idea of liberty rests in a quest for understanding in an environment that is open to all manner and types of thoughts and opinions. The paragon of liberty is a free marketplace of ideas in which each of us may grapple with the thoughts and opinions of others and in which each of us must test our own ideas and opinions against the power of competing ideas and opinions. The spirit of liberty is the basic building block for all democratic societies.
Justice: The idea of justice or fairness is both familiar and complex in its practice and processes. Our system envisions equal treatment of all, not necessarily with equal outcomes but through equal process. Due process of law and a judiciary independent from the political branches of government help assure that the rights of the minority are protected from the impulses of the majority. Justice requires the fair and impartial application of legal principles to issues brought before our courts.
Diversity: E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One. We are a nation committed to both those ideals and practices which unite us (Unum values) as well as those which celebrate our individualities (Pluribus values). What makes our nation unique is the idea of America where we weave together peoples of different geography, race, religion, gender and sexual identity, language, ability and means into a common whole through commitment to fundamental principles.
Global Connections (Theme 9)
“Global Connections have intensified and accelerated the changes faced at the local, national, and international levels. The effects are evident in rapidly changing social, economic, and political institutions and systems. World trade has expanded and technology has removed or lowered many barriers, bringing far-flung cultures, institutions, and systems together. Connections among nations and regions of the world provide opportunities as well as uncertainties. The realities of global interdependence require deeper understanding of the increasing and diverse global connections among world societies and regions.”
Instructional Strategies/Technology
Students today learn differently than students of the past. Students in the future will gather and process information differently still. The challenge for educators is to use those technologies and strategies familiar to students in a way that allows them to see, understand and apply the knowledge, skills and dispositions of productive and participating citizens in our society and in the global community at large.
Civic Ideals and Practices (Theme 10)
“An understanding of civic ideals and practices is a fundamental goal of education for citizenship in a democratic society, Civic ideals and practices have developed over centuries, and are found in societies throughout the world. Important documents that articulate civic ideals have served as milestones in the development of these ideals in different nations and worldwide. Basic freedoms and rights, and the institutions and practices that support shared democratic principles, are foundations of a democratic republic. In some instances, civic practices and their consequences are becoming more congruent with ideals, while in other cases, the gap is wide and calls for continued civic action by individuals and groups to sustain and improve the society. Learning how to apply civic ideals to inform civic action is essential to participation in a democracy and support for the common good.”
This Conference focuses specifically on 3 Civic Ideals and their practice:
Liberty: “Liberty lies in the hearts of men and women.” The idea of liberty rests in a quest for understanding in an environment that is open to all manner and types of thoughts and opinions. The paragon of liberty is a free marketplace of ideas in which each of us may grapple with the thoughts and opinions of others and in which each of us must test our own ideas and opinions against the power of competing ideas and opinions. The spirit of liberty is the basic building block for all democratic societies.
Justice: The idea of justice or fairness is both familiar and complex in its practice and processes. Our system envisions equal treatment of all, not necessarily with equal outcomes but through equal process. Due process of law and a judiciary independent from the political branches of government help assure that the rights of the minority are protected from the impulses of the majority. Justice requires the fair and impartial application of legal principles to issues brought before our courts.
Diversity: E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One. We are a nation committed to both those ideals and practices which unite us (Unum values) as well as those which celebrate our individualities (Pluribus values). What makes our nation unique is the idea of America where we weave together peoples of different geography, race, religion, gender and sexual identity, language, ability and means into a common whole through commitment to fundamental principles.
Global Connections (Theme 9)
“Global Connections have intensified and accelerated the changes faced at the local, national, and international levels. The effects are evident in rapidly changing social, economic, and political institutions and systems. World trade has expanded and technology has removed or lowered many barriers, bringing far-flung cultures, institutions, and systems together. Connections among nations and regions of the world provide opportunities as well as uncertainties. The realities of global interdependence require deeper understanding of the increasing and diverse global connections among world societies and regions.”
Instructional Strategies/Technology
Students today learn differently than students of the past. Students in the future will gather and process information differently still. The challenge for educators is to use those technologies and strategies familiar to students in a way that allows them to see, understand and apply the knowledge, skills and dispositions of productive and participating citizens in our society and in the global community at large.