UNIVERSITY OF
KWAZULU-NATAL
INYUVESI
YAKWAZULU-NATALI
Education Studies 411
Elitism, Patriotism and
CosmopolitanismThe Guides for Representative Councils of Learners
+ The South African Schools Act (1996) stipulates that the Representative Councils
of Learners (RCLs) must be established in schools with learners in Grade 8 and
higher
+ It defines RCLs as follows:
The most prestigious official structure of learners in the entire school... a structure made up of
learners elected by their fellow learners to represent them ... The only body that represents
every learner and in which every learner can participateCE in SA schools - Elitism
The Guides for Representative Councils of Learners
Seems to suggest that RCL are elite and prestigious bodies
Compotitive elitis
Competition for leadership?
+ |) emphasises competition amongst learners to become representatives - itis for a
solected few, not for all
li) encourages compatition for power and prestige among learners — who will become
a hoad prefect?
iii) provides more opportunities for the articulate learners and fewer or no
opportunities for the loss assertive learners — silencing some voices,CE in SA schools: Patriotism or Cosmopolitanism?
+ Neither the prefectship model nor the RCLs have much to contribute to the development of
citizenship education in RSA
— The Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy seeks to nurture new patriotism in post-
apartheid South Africa
What is patriotism? Should schools teach patriotism?
Why do nation-states promote patriotism?
+ Brighouse (2008) identifies [BM reasons:CE in SA schools: Patriotism or Cosmopolitanism?
+ Neither the prefectship model nor the RCLs have much to contribute to the development of
citizenship education in RSA
— The Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy seeks to nurture new patriotism in post-
apartheid South Africa
What is patriotism? Should schools teach patriotism?
Why do nation-states promote patriotism?
+ Brighouse (2008) identifies [Ml reasons:
a) Obligation - teaching people about the importance of their national identity
b) Solidarity - willingness of the people to make sacrifices, maintaining just/fair distribution
of liberties, opportunities and resources in society.
c) Citizenship — ability of people to develop and exercise traits of good citizens.
d) Flourishing — people tend to flourish/succeed/thrive when they have a better connection
with other people; especially people in their immediate vicinity/neighbourhoodWhat does the Bill of Responsibilities say about: _
Learner obligation — reminds learners of their duties and responsibilities
(obligation) to themselves and fellow learners
Learner responsibility — conveys to the youth that they have a responsibility to
build solidarity (i.e. a common sense of belonging & and national pride)
Citizenship — it expects learners to be good and loyal citizens of South Africa
Flourishing — In order for a democratic state to flourish, learners are urged to
‘accept the call of the Bill of Responsibilities and commit themselves to take their
rightful places as active, responsible citizens of South AfricaCosmopolitanism
+ The ability to think globally and act locally (universal humanity)
+ The belief that all people are entitled to equal respect and consideration, no matter
what their citizenship status or other affiliations
+ Are patriotic and cosmopolitan ideals embraced in both the Bill of Responsibilities
and the National School Pledge? (i.e. are learners encouraged to think globally and
act locally? In what ways?)
+ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyXmRxP05bM
+ Point to consider: What does cosmopolitanism mean in terms of the responsibilities
of citizens?
— Our responsibilities exceed our immediate (local) contexts
— We have a moral and social responsibility as global citizensLevels of moral and social responsibility
Cosmopolitan
citizen — global
responsibility
Patriotic citizen —
national
responsibility
Active citizen —
individual
responsibilityHow will SA learners benefit from cosmopolitanism?
Are learners able to make connections between their
immediate contexts and the global context? In what way?
Will they be able to practice citizenship within and between
nations?
To what extent are learners required to learn, co-operate
and interact with fellow learners in other parts of the world?
+ Refer to pages 217-218 for details
org/en/content/tags/south-africa:Competitive
Elitism
_ Representative —
‘Councils of Learners |
micemipetition to
become
representative
rather than the
Undermine
democratic tradition
South African Citizenship
New Patriotism
Education and
Democracy/ Bill of
Responsibilities
Be good and loyal
South African citizer
and loyal ratt t
Cosmopolitanism
PRcccronces
N.
lations Declaration
of Human Rights
Embrace universal
moral ideals of
citizenship