LIST OF BACKGROUND READINGS

  1. Solvason (2005), Investigating specialist school ethos… or do you mean culture?, Educational Studies, 31 (1), pp.85-94
    This article offers clear definitions of the terms which are usually used in the domain of school culture. These definitions can be a useful tool to define a conceptual framework concerning school culture and citizenship education.
    Despite the article is quite recent, it has already been the object of several quotations.

  2. Varnham (2005) , Citizenship in schools: the gap between theory and practice, Education and the Law, 17 (1-2), pp.53-64
    The article provides an overview of the issue of student participation in school life in New Zealand. It offers interesting hints on the relationship between democracy inside the school and citizenship education. It also offers an overview of student participation in some EU countries commenting on the results of the Eurydice project, promoted by the Children's Right Alliance for England.

  3. Wilkins,C., (2000) Citizenship Education, in Bailey, R. Teaching Values & Citizenship across the Curriculum, London, Kogan
    The chapter tackles the most recent developments of the notion of citizenship in particular as far as the British educational system is concerned. It draws on a vision of citizenship education founded on the sense of belonging and on a continuous development of awareness on the part of both the teachers and the pupils.

  4. Prosser, J. (1999) The Evolution of school culture research, in Prosser, J., ed., School Culture, London, Chapman
    This highly quoted chapter goes through the history of the concept of school culture in educational research. It is divided into two parts: the first "Shaping school culture research" concerns school culture as an holistic entity and covers the period 1960-90, the second "Contemporary school culture research" reflects on the most significant themes introduced from the late 1980s until 1999.

  5. Hargreaves, D., (1999) Helping Practitioners Explore Their School's Culture in Prosser, J., ed., School Culture, London, Chapman
    The chapter provides several suggestions to explore the concept of school culture in three dimensions: diagnostic (understanding the character of the present culture), directional (deciding how to change school culture), managerial (devising and implementing the strategy which can move the school culture).

  6. Eurydice (2005) Citizenship Education at School
    Survey report concerning a broad array of EU countries, available on internet www.eurydice.org/portal/page/portal/Eurydice/showPresentation?pubid=055EN