The volume “Civic Education Practices: For an Inclusive School that Builds Communities,” edited by CISP’s Giordana Francia and Concetta Ricciardi, is now available for free download (in Italian).

This book aims to contribute to critical reflection on citizenship education. It offers a framework for observing and engaging with various aspects of school life, consistently asking: What elements in our classrooms and schools help foster a sense of community?

The idea for this collection and analysis of civic education practices in schools emerged from a sieries of teachers’ workshops led by Master Teacher Franco Lorenzoni and CISP as part of the project “Sc.Ap.Pa.Re(Run away) from (un)common places“, co-financed by Impresa Sociale Con i Bambini.

The workshops were inspired by Law 92 of August 20, 2019, which introduced civic education into Italian schools. Workshops articipants explored what civic education truly means in a school setting as well as practical ways to incorporate it into daily school life. As Franco Lorenzoni put it, the core idea is that “Civic Education is about learning to live together and creating a shared understanding of how we coexist. This involves not just rules, but also habits and traditions that can make learning more effective and beneficial for everyone.“

The volume is addressed to all members of the school and educational community: teachers, parents, students, support staff, and local organizations. It is structured into four sections:

• An analysis of school life moments, seen through the eyes of teachers, considering how Law 92 guides this, and asking: How can schools truly turn our classrooms into communities?
• Accounts of actual school experiences that either strengthened the community (“bricks”) or, conversely, posed challenges to it (“stumbles”).
• A contribution by Franco Lorenzoni on the paths and obstacles to educating for coexistence.
• A brief overview of civic education teaching in Italy and Europe.

Certain school life moments represent genuine civic education interventions that contribute to community creation. Yet, these experiences are often overlooked if they aren’t part of structured planning. This volume offers us a way to understand, track progress, and continue our reflection.

Happy reading.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE BOOK

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