A few years ago, my former teammates at CIRCLE worked on a set of civic capabilities that every person should be afforded. Adapting Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum’s human development and capabilities framework, we came up with a pretty great list of 10 civic capabilities. I share this background, because out of that work myself and the other CIRCLE team members thought through our own extensions and modifications that we would add. I came across my list of 7 principles that connect the individual (me) to a larger collective world (we). I share them here as I start to contemplate what it means to connect student-centered learning to the development of civic capabilities:
- Organizations and individuals should be able to develop capacities to sustain and grow themselves for long-term success. (Related values: knowledge, education, investing)
- Opportunities for involvement in civic and political life should be equitable and accessible. (Related values: justice, fairness)
- We should strive to create compassionate and tolerant environments that support a diversity of views, opinions, skills and talents. (Related values: empathy, love, openness, generosity)
- Our civic and public spaces should allow for the development of respect, trust and connection. (Related values: belonging, community)
- Those who hold power should be accountable to all members of society, especially those who are most marginalized. (Related values: justice, fairness, trust)
- We should work in solidarity with others to promote fairness and work always towards positive change. (Related values: community, cooperation, belonging, hopefulness, impact)
- Fearlessness and courage are needed when confronting those who curtail the freedom, happiness, and lives of others. (Related values: liberty, integrity, duty, ethics)