Civic Illiteracy and Education : The Battle for the Hearts and Minds of American Youth

This book presents a disturbing thesis: education - often through history textbooks - promotes civic illiteracy and turns civic responsibility into patriotic conformity. Youth are taught to support a dominant-elite view of international conflicts which undermines the critical abilities that are essential for citizens in a democracy. Expanding upon the social and educational insights of dissident theorists, the author challenges the view of civic literacy put forth by such educators as William Bennett and Diane Ravitch.