Citizenship in Secondary School Students’ Outside Reading Books of Civic Education Subject Specified by the Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551

Abstract

This article aims to investigate how Thailand’s government attempts to transplant the concept of democratic citizenship to its citizens through education. To do so, this research examined nine secondary school students’ extensive outside-reading books used in Civic Education subjects. The books were selected by the Basic Education Core Curriculum B.E. 2551. The nine outside-reading books included Khwaam Sook Phli Bai Nai Thook Chaao, Ja Lao Hai Khoon Fang, Thuuhr Kheuu Khwaam Wang Khaawng Phaen Din, Chee Wit Ngaam Dtaam Kham Sawn Khaawng Phra Jao Yuu Huaa 1-3, Tuesdays with Morrie, Aa Maa Bon Condo, and Animal Farm. The result revealed that the principles and values including carrying out students’ roles and duties, working hard, obeying laws, and volunteering for their community activities were commonly mentioned in the contents of the books. These characters only fitted Westheimer and Kahne’s the first kind of citizen: personally responsible citizen. The characters of the other two kinds of citizens, which are participatory citizen and social-justice oriented citizen, were little found in the contents of the selective readings, which indicated that the broader concept of democratic citizenship was little embedded in those outside-reading books.