Reservoir West Primary School

CIVICS AND CITIZENSHIP

RESPONSIBILITY: Mrs Rhonda Johansen

This domain is taught by classroom teachers.

The Civics and Citizenship domain provides students with knowledge, skills and opportunities to understand and practise what it means to be a citizen in a democracy. Citizens require knowledge and understanding of civic institutions and the skills and willingness to actively participate in society. They need knowledge of political and legal systems and processes and the history that underpins them in order to achieve civic understanding. They need to understand their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and democratic values and principles such as democratic decision making, representative and accountable government, freedom of speech, equality before the law, social justice and equality. This domain facilitates the practice of citizenship skills, the exploration and development of values and dispositions to support citizenship and the empowerment of informed decision making.

Standards in the Civics and Citizenship domain are organised in two dimensions:

• Civic knowledge and understanding
• Community engagement.

Civic Knowledge And Understanding

The Civic knowledge and understanding dimension focuses on the principles and practices that underpin civic institutions and civic life in communities and societies. Students explore concepts of democracy and the key features of Australian and other democracies. They develop knowledge and understanding of the origins and key features of the Australian political, government and legal systems. They develop understanding of the origins, uniqueness and diversity of Australia’s multicultural society. They learn about the principles and values which underpin Australian democracy, such as equality before the law, freedom of speech, democratic representation, accountability of government, social justice and respect for others. They explore the elements of sustainability in local, national and global contexts. They learn about the contribution democracy has made to Australia’s history and national identity and Australia’s place in the world.

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Community Engagement

The Community engagement dimension focuses on the development of skills and behaviours students need to interact with the community and to engage with organisations and groups. Students participate in processes associated with citizenship such as decision making, voting and leadership, using their knowledge of rules and laws of governance, and concepts such as human rights and social justice. They think critically about their own values, rights and responsibilities and those of organisations and groups across a range of settings, and explore the diversity in society.

Students explore and consider different perspectives and articulate and justify their own opinions on local, national and global issues. They refine their own opinions, values and allegiances. They apply their knowledge and skills in a range of community-based activities.

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VICTORIAN ESSENTIAL LEARNING STANDARDS

This table outlines where a student is expected to be at a particular time in his/her educational journey. Most students will achieve the expected standard. Some will achieve to a higher standard. Some may not reach the expected standard.

Click to view a description of the behaviours that a student should display at each progression point in Civics and Citizenship at Levels 3 and 4.

A student’s achievement is reported to parents at June and December. Click for an explanation of the Report Card.

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