SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, nearly five years ago, the
Educational Policies Commission has made the im-
provement of education for democratic citizenship the
central point of its work. An important part of this ef-
fort was a firsthand study of effective programs of civic
education in a selected group of secondary schools. At
this time, when the development of an active and intelli-
gent loyalty to democracy is clearly the nation's supreme
problem in education and in defense, the Commission is
glad to be able to give this account of what good schools
are doing to develop good American citizens and to present
recommendations concerning the further improvement of
citizenship education. Previous publications of the Com-
mission provide the background; this study is pointed
deliberately at implementation of the democratic way of
life in and through our schools.

The reporting of specific projects in this volume does
not involve an endorsement. Generally speaking, however,
only those practices have been reported which show some
promise of effectiveness. Citizenship education is in a period
of growth and adaptation. The Commission, therefore,
urges that specific procedures described in this report be
applied in local circumstances with due regard to local
needs and problems.

The schools of the United States should give effect to
the promises of democracy; they also should explore the
values of democracy, teach its processes, and establish
habits and attitudes of citizenship consistent therewith.
Thus the schools perform a function essential to the very
existence of our democracy.

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