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Responsibilities of Citizenship
Citizenship is membership in a political community such as a city, county or country. To be a good citizen of a community, one should pay taxes, vote, provide public or military service and obey the laws and ordinances. A good citizen will feel a connection to his community and this will be demonstrated by his willingness to work to improve its conditions, learning about and debating political issues and respecting the rights of others.
As an adult citizen, it is important that you let your children know about the rights that you enjoy and responsibilities that you accept to maintain democracy, law and order. Raising another good citizen is a primary responsibility.
Explore Your Heritage
It is important for our children to know our national, state and local histories. Explore these through discussion, visits to museums, books and movies. Make sure your child has some understanding of:
How and why we became a nation.
The basic principals and documents upon which our country was founded.
Sacrifices that were made to give us our current standard of living.
Mistakes we’ve made as a nation.
Individuals and events that played a major part in shaping our country.
Appreciating one’s heritage is a prerequisite for taking actions to sustain it. Teaching our children is important because they know no other way of life, yet must make future decisions that will affect it.
Be a Role Model
The best way to teach your children about being a good citizen is to BE one. Let your child witness how you care for others, share your time with community organizations, help keep your community clean, vote, voice opinions, and stay informed. You should show concern for the success and safety of others, use non-judgmental language that doesn’t offend or demean others, and take responsibility for your actions.
Show your children the value of doing what is right, even if no one is looking!
The Young Good Citizen
As your child grows and develops, there are certain traits that you should look for and help instill. A young good citizen should be doing chores at home to help the family, exhibiting good manners, showing kindness to others, following the rules at home and at school, and forming habits that will help keep the community safe and clean.
By the time your child is in middle school, he or she should be watching the news and reading about current events. Discuss these at the dinner table frequently. Tell your children not only how you plan to vote, but why you plan to vote that way.
Heroes and Celebrities
One of the hardest things that parents have to combat with tweens is the influence of popular celebrities who may chose a lifestyle that does not exhibit good citizen characteristics. It is important that your child learns the difference between a hero and a celebrity. Pay attention to who your child talks about and who he or she wants to emulate.
A hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability. A hero is admired for positive contributions to our quest for enrichment, education, improvement and understanding of our world. A celebrity is simply someone who is well-known. A celebrity may be well known because of negative influences or a great deal of publicity.
Help your child distinguish between the good and bad behaviors of celebrities. If your child indicates that they want to “grow up” to be like a celebrity, ask them to explain why.
Patriotism
Patriotism is emotional and voluntary. It is enhanced by national holidays, national monuments and other national symbols in which someone may take great pride. Acts such as saluting a flag, singing the National Anthem, displaying a “Support Our Troops” sticker or participating in a rally or march can help to raise morale and bond citizens together.
Teach your child about national symbols. Discuss why a national or state holiday is being celebrated. Help them to be proud of the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”
Parenting Tips
Bring democracy home. Allow your children to vote on issues.
Watch the nightly news together and discuss events.
Encourage your child to read the newspaper or news magazines.
Help your child write a letter to the mayor, the president, or congressman.
Find opportunities for your family to volunteer for community organizations.
Take a meal or a gift to an elderly person in your neighborhood.
Organize a party at a park where the children can collect litter.
Teach your child how to calculate sales tax, and explain its use.
Make sure your child knows the Pledge of Allegiance and the words to the National Anthem.
Let your child organize a neighborhood drive or event for the food bank or recycling.
Obey the law, including traffic laws.
Always leave your grocery cart in the proper place.
Never let your child eat products in the store. Insist on a bag and a receipt, even for a package of chewing gum.
Visit community agencies that are supported by taxes or the United Way. Let your child learn what services these agencies provide.
Let your child meet and talk to someone who has just recently become a citizen of the United States.
Discuss the lack of civil rights seen in other countries.
Participate in Campus Cleanup days.
Attend a city council or county commission meeting.

21st Century Community Learning Centers of Elmore County Public Schools
Eclectic Middle School Site Director: La’Trisia Robinson 170 South Ann Street Eclectic, AL 36024 334-541-2131
Holtville Middle School Site Director: Amy Stewart 655 Bulldog Lane Deatsville, AL 36022 334-569-1596
Millbrook Middle-Junior High School Site Director: Ayena Jackson 4228 Chapman Road Millbrook, AL 36054 334-285-2100
Wetumpka Middle School Site Director: Ewell Fuller 1000 Micanopy Street Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-1413
21 CCLC Project Office Project Administrator: Carol Kelly ECTC - 800 Kelly Fitzpatrick Drive PO Box 817 Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-399-4013
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to after school programs. An initiative of the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND act, the 21CCLC programs of Alabama are supervised and administered by the Federal Programs department of the Alabama State Department of Education.

06

It’s Apparent!

Developing a
Good Citizen

Elmore County 21st Century Community Leaning Center Parenting Tips #06