Teaching the culture of peace at the level of Compulsory Secondary Educational. A comparative study of textbooks on citizenship education

Abstract

INTRODUCTION. The main aim of this research is to understand and analyze the teaching approaches that exist of the contents which are related to the culture of peace education in the textbooks on Citizenship Education in Compulsory Secondary Education. As this subject is the closest to these contents. METHOD. We have reviewed the status of the issue, and from a qualitative approach we have analyzed six textbooks on Citizenship Education in Compulsory Secondary Education. Each book has been examined using six parameters, keeping in mind which of these are based on the main documents that explain and develop the culture of peace. To evaluate the existence and treatment of these parameters, we have established as our criteria the combination of two variables; the degree of depth and development with three assessment scales for each one: Non-existent, superficial and profound for the first; and nonexistent, brief and broad for the second. RESULTS. We have found that most of the analyzed textbooks contain and develop in a suitable way almost all the content reflected in the parameters that we have used. In addition, they all condemn ongoing violence and propose building a culture of peace at different levels and in different fields, from the international to the day to day level. DISCUSSION. In contrasting our results with other studies and legislative documents on education, we have seen that the demise of the subject of Citizenship Education represents a significant obstacle to training in core values associated with the culture of peace, which are especially important at this educational stage of development.